Placenta

I have read someplace where a doctor will remove the placenta manually if it does not come out on its own by reaching inside the mother and pulling it out

The few times I had the opportunity to watch, there is no need to reach inside, just a few (gentle) tugs on the umbilical cord followed by an thorough inspection of placenta for completeness and anomalies.

Manual extraction is very common following delivery. A crede maneuver (massaging the uterus) can help stimulate a flaccid uterus to contract and expel a retained placenta. It's important to remove all the placenta to stop hemorrhaging. Also retained placenta can cause post partum bleeding or be a nidis for infection.

Yes it happens but usually with a spinal block

All the kids I've watched my wives deliver (3), the O.B. would turn up the Pitocin IV drip after delivery of baby and within a few seconds the uterus would contract harder and expel the placenta easily.

First wife, (an O.R.-R.N.) watched an inept OB tug on the umbilical cord so hard that he caused the uterus to invert (pulled it inside out) and she had to have an emergency hysterectomy. The OB got away with it by claiming there was an unexpected complication during the delivery and the uneducated mother and father took his word for it.

See what you sited and some of the others above you Jimmy, just another reason I am 100 percent for having c-sections every single time, no exceptions.

Mashie

I can only imagine how much of a relief is feels to push the placenta out. It probably feels orgasmic compared to the gigantic head that was stretching mom (:

I had my two kids at home. No doctor, no problem. The midwives (the first time) and the apprentice midwife (the second - the midwives were late arriving or was it the baby was too fast in coming) just waited for my body to do what it should - expel the placenta. The first ones did an exam of the placenta to make sure it was intact and expelled completely. I even have "pictures" printed from that placenta. I don't remember if that happened with my second or not. Too invested in my new baby to notice or not.

(* note home birth is not for everyone, do your research and make an informed decision)

The doctor who deliver my wife's third child must have been in a hurry. Within a few minutes of delivery he inserted his entire hand and pulled the placenta.

I've watched a few deliveries and typically the placenta will come out with some pushes. I have never seen the doctor reach in and pull it out, just kind of help guide it out.

The doctor who deliver my wife's third child must have been in a hurry. Within a few minutes of delivery he inserted his entire hand and pulled the placenta.

I would think pulling out the placenta would leave piece(s) possibly attached inside. That would not be a good thing.

I would think pulling out the placenta would leave piece(s) possibly attached inside. That would not be a good thing.

It happened to my wife for her first delivery, the doctor explained that somtimes, parts of the placement remain attached to the wall and cause hemorragy and in worst case, death of not removed on time.

This being said, I admit it is quite impressive to see someones stuff hand in this cavity ...

With my first, almost immediately, my doctor grabbed the umbilical cord close to my vagina, not inside, and moved her hand in a clock wise motion. It was expelled within a minute or so.

I got to deliver my third child - with the doc looking over my shoulder. He took the placenta and checked it over. Not sure what all he did with it - I was consumed with my new son. Don’t think he reached inside but I wasn’t watching. They handed me a scissors and I cut the cord.

If it does not come out whole then they may opt to manually remove it (some sort of anesthesia or IV sedation is needed) or go for a D&C. All "products of conception" must be removed or she will continue to hemorrhage

So why do they inspect it when it comes out. What are they looking for?

That's what I witnessed. To my surprise, the doctor reached up inside my wife and pulled it out like he was unstopping a drain or something. I guess you do it before everything snaps back to normal size and tightness. I was quite shocked to see this bloody mess ("What the hell is that?"). In textbooks the placenta always looks like a clear thin bag, sort of like a jellyfish. Since it delivers all the blood to grow the baby, it makes sense that it's full of blood vessels. Now I know.

My ex partner and I do this the way she tells me during a play exam. She’s had two kids and yeah, the doctor removes it manually or an assistant does it. It’s pretty Interesting. The doctor, at least when she describes it, pushes on her lower belly and she pushes slightly. it comes right out. Doctor grabs ahold of the remaining umbilical cord while she pushes and he pushes down and gently pulls it out.