Hi, I gave birth to DS 17 months ago and now preggers with 2nd child. I had a nightmare the other night about how i delivered the placenta last time. I had kind of forgetten about the experience but it is obviously haunting me so I discussed it with current mw today but wanted to ask more on here.
I gave birth very quickly and easily (was only in delivery room an hour and half!) so I decided NOT to have the injection to help placenta. I started having contractions to deliver the placenta but the midwife (I feel) basically dragged the thing out of me - my DH agrees (he watched in horror!) and it came out quick but it felt really horrible and not natural at all (my birth felt very right and natural).
I spoke to my mw today and she said they do pull it out gently when you have the injection but shouldn't if you don't.
I now know it was wrong (which I am a bit mad about) I think she was rushing me cos it was a very busy day on the labour ward. And I feel I will be able to ask for what I want having more knowledge this time.
I don't want to scare anyone with this post - I had a lovely birth experience overall but I wanted to ask people that didnt have the injection if they were left to deliver the placenta natural without any pulling or tugging from the midwife??

Firstly congratulations on your pregnancy. I ahve delivered the placenta both ways. With my 1st I had the injection & there was some very very gentle pulling but it didnt feel forced at all & then with my 2nd I delivered in water without it & it was just left to come out on its own without any interference from the mw at all (my 3rd was a section & probably the easiest of all!!!! lol) I have to say I think I preferred it with the injection looking back as it all came away in one piece whereas without the injection it came away in parts.

Good Luck xx

My MW said not to have the injection as my labour was very quick,and so the placenta should follow rapidly... 45mins later im still trying to deliver it..??wasnt a nice experience.so am definately opting for the injection straight away this time xx

Hi, well iv'e had the injection twice once where it was fine one pull and it was out, the other time it came out in pieces and i was still passing them a week later and needed antibiotics to stop infection. Then i delivered it with out injection the other time and feel i bled more heavily afterwards because of it. That said i am no expert but would say that it would differ from birth to birth as the placenta is effected differently each time. My membranes were 'ragged' with the one where i was still passing it a week later. I would still opt for the injection tho as its quicker and all i wanted to do was hold my baby, the no injection way took about an hour. I would say that go with what you feel.

Hi

With my first I wanted to deliver it naturally but they advised against it and I went along with their suggestion. I had the injection and they pulled and also massaged my tummy it took a little while but I can't remember how long.

Second pregnancy I again didn't want the injection. I was at home so we put the baby to the breast to try and get things going but nothing, I was eventually asked to sit on the loo to see if gravity might help. The only thing the midwife did was give the cord a little wiggle but eventully it came away about an hour after I had had Thea. It was definitely longer than the injection though.

It did feel like a long time and I remember thinking at the time why did I bother and I would much rather be sitting in bed cosying up to my baby than sitting here waiting. I am sure there was a reason why I chose not to have the injection and I had looked into it but I cannot remember for the life of me what the reason was nor did it seem that important after I had had Thea.

The most important thing to me was that they wait for the cord to stop pulsating before cutting it which they did with both labours.

I personally bled for a shorter time second time round and also it was a lot lighter but I have no idea whether how you birthed the placenta affects that.