Retained placenta
| Retained placenta | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Retained products of conception |
| Specialty | Obstetrics and gynaecology  |
Retained placenta is a condition in which all or part of the placenta or membranes remain in the uterus during the third stage of labour.[1] Retained placenta can be broadly divided into:
- failed separation of the placenta from the uterine lining
- placenta separated from the uterine lining but retained within the uterus
A retained placenta is commonly a cause of postpartum
Retained placenta is generally defined as a placenta that has not undergone placental expulsion within 30 minutes of the baby’s birth where the third stage of labor has been managed actively.[2]
Signs and symptoms
Risks of retained placenta include hemorrhage and infection. After the placenta is delivered, the uterus should contract down to close off all the blood vessels inside the uterus. If the placenta only partially separates, the uterus cannot contract properly, so the blood vessels inside will continue to bleed. A retained placenta thereby leads to hemorrhage.[3]
Management
Drugs, such as intraumbilical or intravenous oxytocin, are often used in the management of placental retention.
However, in birth centers and attended home birth environments, it is common for licensed care providers to wait for the placenta's birth up to 2 hours in some instances.
Other animals
Retention of fetal membranes (afterbirth) is observed more frequently in cattle than in other animals. In a normal condition, a cow’s placenta is expelled within a 12-hour period after calving.[6]
References
- ^ a b Placenta (retention)
- ^ a b c d e Maternity - Prevention, Early Recognition & Management of Postpartum Haemorrhage (PPH) From Department of Health, NSW. 21-Oct-2010
- ^ Retained placenta, April 2015, BabyCenter, L.L.C.
- S2CID 220110807.
- PMID 32529658.
- ^ Retained Placentas