Bleeding after birth
5. The mother should lie on her back with a pillow, blankets, or other padding
under her hips. Give her antibiotics to prevent infection (see page 231).
You could get an
infection because
your womb came
out of your body.
These antibiotics
will protect you.
After putting the womb back into the woman’s body, get medical help.
Check the placenta and cord
Whether the placenta comes out by itself or you guide it out,
you should check to see that it is all there.
Usually the placenta comes out whole, but sometimes a
piece of it is left inside the womb. This can cause bleeding or
infection later. To see if everything has come out, check the
top and bottom of the placenta, and the membranes from the
bag of waters. Also check the cord to see if it is normal.
Wear gloves when you check the placenta and membranes.
This will protect you from germs in the mother’s blood.
Top of the placenta
The top of the placenta (the side that was facing the baby) is smooth and shiny.
The cord attaches on this side, and then spreads out into many deep-blue blood
vessels that look like tree roots.
Sometimes, but very rarely,
there is an extra piece attached to
the placenta. Check for blood
extra
piece
blood
vessels go
nowhere
vessels trailing off the edge of the
placenta and going nowhere.
This may mean that an extra piece
is still inside the mother.
There may be an extra
piece inside the mother.
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A Book for Midwives (2010)