A dinner plate sized wound?
Do you have a dinner plate size wound in your uterus after your placenta has been born?
A question you might have been googling after seeing posts on social media or being told this by a friend or colleague. But is it true?
YES!
And also no.
Immediately after the placenta detaches, there IS indeed a “dinner plate sized wound” on the inside of the uterus!
HOWEVER, in the coming seconds after the placenta is born, the uterus contracts down to the size of a tennis ball! Shrinking that wound and the open blood vessels within it, which is COMPLETELY essential to hemmoraging after the birth.
The main hormone responsible for this is OXYTOCIN. Oxytocin is best made when we feel safe, relaxed, unobserved and undisturbed. So whilst these things are important for labour- you MUST remember that birth isn’t OVER until the placenta is born!
How to reduce the chance of bleeding after birth?
Keen Baby skin to skin until AT LEAST after their first feed AND the birth of the placenta. NO separation of mum & baby for weighing, dressing, etc.
Keep warm
Breastfeed!
Avoid ALL unnecessary disturbances (people coming in the room, phone calls etc)
Keep the lights turned off
Keep the atmosphere quiet and peaceful
If it’s taking a while for the placenta to come, be sure the bladder is empty.
For more easy to understand birth biology lessons.. Join our online Antenatal & Hypnobirthing course for just £40/$49