Complications of the Third Stage of Labor

Abstract

This paper includes management of the third stage of labor which should end with a critical period one hour after the delivery of the placenta. Placental delivery should exclude a radical, forcible and manual expression as a general policy, except in hemorrhage, and should be replaced by watchful waiting. Complications discussed are: postpartum hemorrhage, bleeding from cervical and vaginal lacerations, retained placental remnants, retention of placenta or retained placenta, placenta accreta, inversion of the uterus and retraction ring.