The placenta typically remains alive for about one hour after birth. In some cases, it can even last up to six hours. The placenta serves to provide oxygen and nutrients to the fetus during pregnancy, and it is released from the body once the baby is born.
Immediately following birth, the placenta is known as the afterbirth and is expelled from the body in what is known as the third stage of labor. Once delivered, the placenta and umbilical cord are usually examined by medical staff around two minutes after birth.
The placenta is then kept in a clean container and allocated to a lab for examination, typically 24 to 48 hours after delivery. After that, it is normally disposed of properly.
Is a mother allowed to keep her placenta after birth?
Yes, a mother is allowed to keep her placenta after birth. In some cultures, it is considered a source of nourishment and a ritual to keep the placenta and bury it in a sacred place, such as a family burial ground.
After birth, the mother can keep the placenta for various purposes, such as eating the placenta, creating a keepsake item from it, planting the placenta in a garden, creating art from it, or having it turned into a pill.
Some hospitals have policies in place which allow families to take their placenta home after they deliver, while other hospitals may require families to sign a medical release form. Additionally, if the mother opts to hire a doula or professional birth keeper, they often offer to handle the placenta care, such as keeping it chilled, doing the encapsulation process, burying it, or cremating it, and more.
Ultimately, it is the mother’s own personal choice as to whether to keep her placenta after birth or not.
What do hospitals do with the placenta after birth?
Hospitals typically treat placentas with the utmost respect and care. After birth, the baby’s placenta will usually be passed to the doctor or midwife for examination and then to the nurse, who will place it in a container.
The container will then be placed in either a cooler, a fridge, or a special container until such time as the family of the baby can decide what they would like to do with it.
If the mother wishes to have the placenta, the hospital will store it carefully in a sterilized container and either hand it to the family or, if they would like, they may arrange to have the placenta sent home with them in a cooler or taken straight to a specialist service if they wish to have it encapsulated or made into a placenta tincture.
If the family wishes to have the placenta buried or cremated, the hospital will provide assistance in doing so. They may also be able to arrange for a funeral home to perform a burial or cremation service if needed.
In cases where a mother does not wish to keep the placenta, the hospital will dispose of it respectfully and responsibly, usually by incineration according to their local regulations.
Overall, hospitals strive to treat the placenta with care, dignity and respect, no matter the wishes of the family.
What is a lotus baby?
A lotus baby is a term used to refer to a baby who is born in water, either in a pool or a poollike environment. This method of delivery has been used for centuries, often in cultures that believe that birthing under water is seen as spiritually sacred and healing for both mother and baby.
It has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years, often as part of an overall goal of natural childbirth.
Depending on the culture, a lotus baby may also be called a water baby, water-born baby, or baby lotus. Again, the idea behind this method of delivery is that the warm water in the birthing pool helps relax the muscles of the mother, easing childbirth, and may even facilitate a quick and easy delivery.
For medical safety, a midwife should never attempt lotus baby delivery without the proper preparation, which includes informing a medical professional in case of any potential risks(such as the mother having a high-risk pregnancy, placenta previa, etc).
If a mother and midwife choose to attempt a lotus baby delivery, the pool should be clean and safe and the mother should stay as close to the pool’s side as possible in order to stay connected with the attending midwife.
What happens when the placenta scab falls off?
When the placenta scab falls off, the umbilical stump usually dries up and falls off soon after. After the umbilical stump has healed and fallen off, the umbilical cord will no longer provide nutrients to the baby, as it is no longer attached to the baby’s bloodstream.
This means that the baby will begin to rely solely on milk and other foods to get the nourishment it needs. The mother will then begin to produce milk and the baby will be able to receive colostrum, which is the first milk a mother produces.
The baby will continue to get its nutritional needs from breast milk or formula for the first few months of life until it is ready to eat solid foods. The placenta scab falling off is the signal that the baby is ready to be transitioned from relying on the placenta to being able to maintain its own health through nourishment from milk or other foods.
What happens if a piece of placenta is left inside?
If a piece of the placenta is left inside the mother’s body after delivery, it is known as retained placenta. This is a serious medical condition that requires immediate medical attention as it can be indicative of a life-threatening medical emergency.
Retained placenta can cause severe infections, hemorrhage, and sepsis. Therefore, if a piece of placenta is left behind after delivery, the patient should be closely monitored and immediate medical intervention is required.
If left untreated, the patient can suffer severe complications, including severe infections, high fever, severe pain, and difficulty breathing. Symptoms such as continuously heavy bleeding, increased uterine tenderness, and fever may suggest infection due to retained placenta.
Treatments may include antibiotics, pain medications, injection of medication to soften the uterus, or manually removing the placenta from the uterus.
How do you know if your placenta is left inside?
If your placenta is left inside, you may experience symptoms such as heavy bleeding following the birth of your baby, a high fever, chills, abdominal pain, or foul-smelling vaginal discharge. A healthcare provider can diagnose an undiagnosed placenta by ultrasound or by further examining you following the birth.
If an ultrasound is not available, the doctor may use a “hook” to feel inside and see if the placenta is still present. Your healthcare provider may also order blood tests or perform a physical exam to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment for a retained placenta may require a manual or suction removal or a C-section. If left untreated, a retained placenta can cause infection and heavy bleeding, which can lead to emergency surgery or even death.
Can retained placenta come out on its own?
Yes, it is possible for a retained placenta to come out on its own. Generally, the placenta will detach from the uterine wall and be expelled from the body after the baby has been born. This process is known as placental expulsion and usually occurs within 30 minutes of the baby’s birth.
If the placenta does not come out on its own, several medical interventions can be used to expel the placenta and prevent further complications. Dilation and curettage (D&C) is a procedure that can be used to safely remove the placenta if it does not detach on its own.
The use of pitocin, a medication that stimulates contractions, can also help expel the placenta. However, most healthcare providers will opt to use other methods to expel the placenta if possible due to the risks associated with the use of pitocin.
How long can a baby stay attached to the umbilical cord after birth?
A baby can typically stay attached to the umbilical cord for about 5-15 minutes after birth. During this time, the baby will receive oxygen, antibodies and blood from the placenta and transition from the intrauterine environment to the outside world.
The umbilical cord will then be clamped and cut shortly after the baby is born and the blood from the placenta can be delivered to the baby through the umbilical cord. The cord typically falls off and heals about five to ten days after birth.
What happens if you don’t cut the umbilical cord?
If the umbilical cord is not cut at birth, a medical professional will need to intervene in order to prevent the oxygen supply to the baby from being blocked. The umbilical cord contains two large veins that deliver oxygen and nutrients from the placenta to the baby and a single large artery that returns the baby’s deoxygenated blood back to the placenta to be reoxygenated.
If the umbilical cord is not cut, blood circulation can continue in both directions and the baby can become overwhelmed by the amount of blood and not be able to adequately receive the oxygen and nutrients he or she needs.
This can lead to a condition known as an umbilical cord tourniquet, where the umbilical cord becomes so tangled or wrapped around baby’s body that the flow of oxygen is blocked and that can be very serious and even fatal if not addressed quickly.
Cutting the umbilical cord allows the oxygen from the placenta to freely flow to the baby, ensures that the baby’s circulation is separate from the mother’s, and allows for the baby to fully breathe on his or her own.
What is the benefit of delayed cord clamping?
Delayed cord clamping provides many possible benefits for both baby and mother. It helps to provide the baby with extra blood and nutrients that support better brain and organ development and may decrease the risk of anemia.
It also helps to reduce the risk of some infections as more of the white blood cells present in the cord blood can help to fight against any potential illnesses. Delayed cord clamping also helps to reduce the risk of jaundice, and in some cases, it may even help to reduce the likelihood of bleeding in the brain.
For the mother, delayed cord clamping can help to reduce the risk of postpartum hemorrhage, as the extra blood and fluid in the placenta and cord are retained in the body, providing an extra boost of blood and energy.
Delayed cord clamping may also promote a better bonding experience between mother and baby and can help to reduce the amount of stress associated with the delivery. Finally, delayed cord clamping allows the mother to not experience as much of a drop in her hemoglobin level, as the extra blood and fluid retained can provide her body with a much-needed replenishment of oxygenated red blood cells.
Can a baby breathe with the umbilical cord attached?
Yes, a baby is able to breathe with the umbilical cord still attached. During delivery, oxygen-rich blood travels from the placenta and umbilical cord to the baby. The umbilical cord transports the oxygen-rich blood from the placenta to the baby, allowing the baby to breathe, circulate blood, and get rid of carbon dioxide waste.
Following delivery, the baby is capable of maintaining their own oxygenation and their own respiration with the umbilical cord still attached. The umbilical cord and placenta need to remain attached immediately after birth in order to provide the baby with oxygen-rich blood and to prevent excessive blood loss.
Once the umbilical cord is clamped, the baby will take their first independent breaths.
Why do doctors immediately cut the umbilical cord?
Doctors immediately cut the umbilical cord after the baby is born for several reasons. Firstly, cutting the cord helps prevent infections in the newborn. This is because the placenta can continue to produce bacteria if the cord is not cut, which can be passed to the newborn.
Secondly, cutting the cord helps the baby separate and become independent of the mother, allowing them to breathe and establish their own circulation while they are still connected to the umbilical cord.
Lastly, cutting the cord can help to stimulate the baby and give them their first breath of air. This helps to increase the newborn’s oxygen levels, as well as provide vital nutrients, such as glucose, to their body through their umbilical cord.
All of these reasons are why doctors normally cut the umbilical cord shortly after the baby is born.
Can the mother feel the umbilical cord being cut?
No, the mother typically does not feel the umbilical cord being cut since she is under the influence of anesthesia during the delivery process. The umbilical cord is usually cut by the doctor or midwife using a special pair of scissors.
Though the mother may not be able to feel the cord being cut, she will likely experience her baby being placed on her chest for the first time after the umbilical cord has been cut and clamped. The moment of meeting the new baby is filled with emotions of joy and relief, making the cutting of the umbilical cord a distant memory.
Is Cutting umbilical cord necessary?
Yes, cutting the umbilical cord is necessary for a baby’s health and is a crucial step in the birthing process. After a baby is born, the umbilical cord connects the baby to its mother through the placenta and provides the baby with nutrients and oxygen from the mother’s bloodstream.
The placenta and umbilical cord also remove waste products from the baby’s blood and transfer them to the mother’s blood, which then gets removed from the mother’s body. Cutting the umbilical cord stops the baby’s connection to the placenta, which is essential for a safe and healthy delivery.
The umbilical cord is typically cut with sterile scissors and is done by a medical professional such as a doctor or midwife. The cord stump should be clamped before cutting to prevent the baby from bleeding too much.
Once the cord has been cut, the baby is no longer receiving nutrition from the placenta and the umbilical stump will typically fall off within the first week or two.
In summary, cutting the umbilical cord is a necessary part of the birthing process and is an essential step for a healthy delivery. It marks the end of the newborn’s connection to the placenta and allows him or her to begin breathing on their own.
