What's it like to deliver a placenta?

baileyrayvalentine · September 2011

I will admit that I had no idea we had to deliver the placenta - I should have known after watching my dog have a few litters of puppies as a kid, it just wasn't until I became pregnant and started reading about birth that I discovered we did it too!!

Can any veteran mommies explain to first time mommies what that experience is like?

adri77 · September 2011

It's kinda no big deal....I mean, for me anyway. Both times the nurse was weighing/measuring and cleaning up my babies and I was so focused on watching that, I didn't even pay attention to the placenta part. I do remember with DS2 having some contrax that hurt beforehand, and the dr kinda pushing on my stomach and helping it along. But it was almost efortless for me. GL!

Mrs.Greeko · September 2011

It's a total non-event compared to delivering the baby. Baby comes out. You stare at the little creature you made. A little bit later you get a few contractions that are way minor compared to what you've already been through and you push a tiny bit again and the placenta comes out. But you barely notice it because you are still so busy staring at the little person that just came out of you. The doctor/midwife inspects it to make sure that it is intact and there isn't any of it still inside you.

Really no big deal after having a baby, plus you are too busy looking at your baby/nursing your baby to really care about it!

ejgballerina · September 2011

Honestly, I barely remember it. I was too busy gazing at DS in my arms! I sort of remember my OB pushing on my stomach and then telling me I was delivering the placenta. I really don't remember any effort on my part whatsoever, the contractions I was still having expelled it for me I think. Then I asked to see it in the bowl- it was so crazy to see what nurtured my son for 9 months!

Melicakes · September 2011

I have no personal experience with this yet, (obviously), but my friend said it didn't hurt to deliver the placenta and she hardly noticed it. What she did notice however was the senstation of the Dr and her entire hand in her nether regions as she did a sweep to make sure no bits were left behind.... Tongue Tied

MrsG.060708 · September 2011

I don't remember delivering my placenta at all. Once the baby is out, you are so focused on them anyway. I may have done a push, or a nurse may have help push on my uterus...I really have no clue!

Bubbles412 · September 2011

Great post! And thanks for all the responses too. At our first birth class we had to go around the room and say what we hoped to learn during the class. And I was the only one who said - what happens immediately after the baby comes out. That is the one thing we didn't cover. I mean, I know there is more that happens after baby comes out and is put on my chest....so come on and share! Since class didn't cover it, I....YouTubed it. And that was NOT a good decision at all it looked so disturbing! Glad to know it is basically a "non event" after baby makes her appearance!

epopp85 · September 2011

My doctor did not wait for me to deliver it. DH describes it as like watching someone dig the guts out of a pumpkin lol. He just reached in a started scooping. I do remember both him and the nurses pushing on my stomach a lot to help get it out though. That wasn't exactly pleasant, but I was too focused on DS to think much of it at the time.

CheriCO · September 2011

Mrs.Greeko:
It's a total non-event compared to delivering the baby. Baby comes out. You stare at the little creature you made. A little bit later you get a few contractions that are way minor compared to what you've already been through and you push a tiny bit again and the placenta comes out. But you barely notice it because you are still so busy staring at the little person that just came out of you. The doctor/midwife inspects it to make sure that it is intact and there isn't any of it still inside you.

Really no big deal after having a baby, plus you are too busy looking at your baby/nursing your baby to really care about it!

This is exactly how it was for me. They didn't dig in with hands to search for bits, didn't tug on the cord, just let it come out on its own. They did have me give a little push to help it come out.

mbgreenwalt · September 2011

Mine came out about 5 minutes later. It just came out on its own. It was no big deal, I had an epi so I still couldn't feel anything (don't know if it is uncomfortable without an epi). Not to cause worry, but I had a friend who had to have hers surgically removed after delivery, it wouldn't detach.

authorofdreamz · September 2011

Thanks for posting this. I am glad to hear everyone saying it was such a non-event for them. I had read some replies on a different site where people said it was much worse than delivering the baby and had started to wonder about it myself.

shelbyluvschachi · September 2011

Total non event for me. Don't even remember anything about it.

missashleyyy · September 2011

I had an epidural with DS1 so I didn't even feel him come out.. and I was so caught up in watching everything the nurses were doing with him that I don't even remember delivering the placenta. Needless to say, my epidural worked GREAT!