In plain words
A retained placenta is when some or all of the placenta does not leave the uterus after birth. Usually the placenta comes out within about half an hour. If it stays, the uterus may not clamp down well, and bleeding can follow. Small pieces left behind can also cause bleeding or infection later. Care teams check the placenta after birth and may need to remove what remains. Many people feel anxious when delivery takes longer, and that feeling is understandable. Heavy bleeding, fever, or a bad smell after birth is a call to your provider now. Heavy bleeding with dizziness or is a call to 911.
The deeper version
Retained placenta is failure of placental delivery within about 30 minutes of birth, a threshold that varies somewhat by protocol. Retained placental fragments are a separate, later-presenting problem. Retained tissue impairs uterine contraction and is a recognized cause of , with infection a further risk. , with uterotonics and controlled cord traction, reduces postpartum hemorrhage in trials, as summarized in a Cochrane review (Begley and colleagues, 2019), and ACOG Practice Bulletin 183 (2017) addresses its use. Manual removal and curettage are used when retention persists. is a separate and more serious condition. The controversy concerns the optimal time to intervene and the balance between expectant and active management in low-bleeding cases.
Where it comes up
- Breastfeeding after a cesareanFeeding Your Baby
- Low milk supply: real, perceived, and what helpsFeeding Your Baby
- When your milk comes inFeeding Your Baby
- Heavy bleeding after birth (hemorrhage)Birth and the First Days
What mothers here say about retained placenta
No one has posted under this term yet.
Sources
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists — Practice Bulletin No. 183: Postpartum Hemorrhage (2017)
- Begley CM, Gyte GML, Devane D, McGuire W, Weeks A — Active versus expectant management for women in the third stage of labour. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2019)