The body of a woman is full of secrets and mysteries. Surely everyone knows that only a representative of the weaker sex can give birth to their kind. In this case, you need to have an established hormonal background and the menstrual cycle. During childbirth, doctors can distinguish several periods. One of them involves the separation of the placenta. It is about him that will be discussed in this article. You will learn what the afterbirth is and why it is needed. We also talk about the normal course of this period and its possible deviations.
Pregnancy and childbirth
Before you say what the last is, it is worth getting acquainted with some features of the female body. About once a month, a representative of the weaker sex has a rupture of the follicle and, as a result, ovulation. The released cell is directed towards the genital organ through the fallopian tubes. It is here that conception most often occurs. A fertilized egg descends into the uterine cavity and is firmly fixed to its wall. This is where pregnancy will develop. Every day the fetus grows in size and acquires new skills.
When the baby is ready for birth, the first period of childbirth begins. Most often, this process takes from 38 to 42 weeks. It is worth noting that the crumbs may appear at an earlier time. In this case, he may need the qualified help of doctors.
The first and second periods of childbirth
At this stage, the cervix opens and the fetus is expelled from the cavity of the genital organ. Normally, such manipulation occurs naturally. However, in some cases, medication or even surgery may be required. The average duration of the first and second periods in the aggregate is from 2-4 to 10-16 hours.
The third stage of labor: what is the afterbirth?
Immediately after the baby has left the birth canal, the third period of labor begins. It is characterized by the expulsion of the remaining membranes from the uterine cavity. What is a afterbirth? This is a formation that forms in the first third of pregnancy. It is the placenta that supplies the fetus with blood, oxygen and many other nutrients. Also, the placenta during the stay of the baby in the womb is able to perform a protective function. The placenta reliably protects the baby from toxic substances and certain medications.
The last got its name due to the fact that he leaves the cavity of the genital organ in the last place. Nature conceived so that throughout the whole process the baby could receive oxygen and the substances he needs from the mother’s body.
How is the expulsion of the placenta?
The allocation of the afterbirth can occur in two ways: natural and forced. Much depends on the structure of the reproductive organ, diseases of the woman's reproductive system, complications during pregnancy and so on. Also a big role is played by the way the baby is born.
Natural birth
If a woman does not have indications for surgical intervention, then she goes through all periods of childbirth. When the baby leaves the uterine cavity, the allocation of the placenta begins. This process can take from 10 to 30 minutes.
After birth, the baby is placed next to the entrance to the vagina and wait for the moment when the umbilical cord stops pulsating. After this, the crumbs are separated from the mother. The uterus in the first minutes begins to actively contract and decrease in size. All this contributes to the separation of the placenta from its walls.
A few minutes after separation of the baby from the mother, the doctor checks whether the placenta is ready to leave its place. To do this, the obstetrician or gynecologist puts the rib of his hand on the lower area of ​​the peritoneum and slightly presses. If the hanging umbilical cord is not pulled back, then you can begin to conduct the birth of the afterbirth.
All this time, the uterus undergoes contractions. A newly minted mother may simply not feel this, since their intensity is much lower than during childbirth. The doctor draws attention to when the next battle begins, and asks the woman to push a little. It is enough for a woman to get a full chest of air and strain the abdominal wall. The very next minute, the last will come out of the uterine cavity. You can find photos of this education in the article.
Cesarean section
If a woman gives birth to a baby through Caesarean section, the placenta may separate somewhat differently. A photo of the operation is presented to your attention.
During the manipulation, the doctor cuts the uterine cavity and removes the baby from it. Immediately after this, the uterus may begin to decrease, but this does not always happen. Due to trauma to the vessels and muscle walls, the contractility of the organ may be temporarily lost. In this case, the doctor has to separate the placenta with the help of hands and special tools.
The doctor holds the uterine wall with one brush, and slowly and accurately separates the formation with the fingers of the other.
Examination of the afterbirth
The afterbirth after childbirth is carefully studied. If everything went well and there were no complications, then doctors put the placenta on a large metal plate. In this case, the maternal side should be at the top.
Through careful study, an assessment is made of the degree of maturity of the organ. Normally, the age of the placenta has a 1st or 2nd degree. If during pregnancy a woman had to lead an incorrect lifestyle and use a lot of medications, then there may be a third degree of placenta development.
Also, the afterbirth after giving birth is examined for damage. When they are detected, we can talk about some complications. The doctor measures the placenta using a special tape and writes its size in the birth card. All this plays a large role in describing the process.
What does the aftermath look like for most women? This is a large disk that is penetrated by many vessels and veins. The color of this formation can be from blue to bright red. All this is considered a variant of the norm. The umbilical cord also leaves the placenta, which normally has three main vessels. It is examined in the same way and all the data received is recorded.
Possible problems
The postpartum after birth (a photo of education is presented in the article) does not always work out as intended. In some cases, problems or complications arise. One of the most common pathologies is retention of the placenta. Also, the placenta can grow to the cavity of the genital organ or exfoliate prematurely. Consider the main options for complications and how to eliminate them.
Placenta retention
If, after half an hour after the birth of the baby, the placenta has not separated, then we can talk about its tight attachment. In this case, one part of the organ often leaves and bleeding occurs. At the same time, a woman may complain of weak painful sensations, which an inexperienced doctor takes for uterine contractions.
If the placenta lingers in the cavity of the genital organ, then the obstetrician or gynecologist tries to separate it manually. It is worth noting that during the manipulation it is forbidden to pull or pull on the umbilical cord. The doctor inserts a hand into the uterine cavity and slowly tries to separate the placenta. Such manipulation can be carried out under general or local anesthesia. However, some medical institutions do not provide such services, therefore, manual extraction of the placenta is “profitable”. When the placenta is separated, a thorough examination of the genital organ and the walls of the vagina is performed for the presence of residues or injuries.
The growth of the placenta
Such a pathology most often occurs in women who have undergone cesarean section or any other operations that left scars on the uterus. If the placenta is attached in the suture area, then fusion of the walls may occur. It is worth noting that such a pathology occurs rather rarely (in about 5 cases out of 1000).
The complication is characterized by the fact that the doctor cannot separate the placenta even with the hands. If the last has not left, what to do in this case? A woman needs an emergency operation. It is produced under anesthesia. During the procedure, the doctor completely removes the uterus with the placenta, since there is no other treatment option. Otherwise, a woman may die from excessive blood loss.
Premature detachment of the placenta
During childbirth or immediately after them, such a complication may occur. In this case, the woman experiences severe pain, which resembles a long endless battle. If the complication occurred in the first or second period of childbirth, then the pathology can lead to the death of the baby. Also, a woman risks losing a large amount of blood. That is why, with premature detachment of the placenta, an emergency cesarean section is performed . The only exceptions are those cases when the fetus has already entered the birth canal of a woman.
With premature discharge of the placenta, a damaged area occurs between the uterine wall and the afterbirth. This leads to the accumulation of blood in this area. With prolonged procrastination, the liquid can soak through the wall of the genital organ and seep into the abdominal cavity. In this case, there is only one way out of this situation - the removal of the placenta with the uterus.
Retention of parts of the placenta in the uterus
Quite a lot of women are faced with the fact that the placenta does not come out completely. A doctor can detect pathology at the next examination with an ultrasonic sensor. Also, the following symptoms are symptoms of the disease: fever, abdominal pain and severe bleeding.
Correction in this case involves curettage. It is carried out under general or local anesthesia in the walls of the hospital.
How to promote proper separation of the afterbirth
In order to avoid any complications during childbirth, you need to deal with their prevention during pregnancy. Expectant mother is recommended to lead an active lifestyle (if there is no threat of abortion), as well as eat right. If a woman has scars on the uterus or any formations in her cavity, then you need to carefully monitor the attached placenta. During diagnostic ultrasound procedures, the specialist pays attention to where the placenta is located.
Also, after the fetus is expelled from the genital organ, the doctor can massage the walls of the uterus. In this case, its contractile function will increase, and the latter will leave its whereabouts faster and easier.
Summarizing
So, now you know what the last is. After childbirth (a photo of the process is presented in the article), some formations are sent for additional analysis, which is called histology. Most often, it is necessary if the baby died during birth. Also, histology is prescribed to those women in childbirth, the aftermath of which have neoplasms in the form of cysts, polyps or nodes of an unknown nature.
The placenta is a vital component for the baby at a time when it is in the womb. Each woman in labor should have an idea of ​​what the last is and when it leaves the female body. Give birth easily and on time. Health to you and your kids!