[arlecchina]

okay. I realise it comes out, it can take up to an hour etc on it's own, I accept that etc.

I also know you're meant to check it to be sure it is intact, because pieces should not be staying in you....what I want to know is, how do you know if it is not? I did not see my placenta when I birthed my son (hospital, induced, placenta was never in my sight)

so I dont know what to look for? is it obvious? will it look torn or mangled or...something?

 

[Kidzaplenty]

I have delivered eight babies so far. At home, no less. And I still can not really answer that question.

Every one looks different. They all look kinda like raw meat. So I don't know that anyone REALLY knows if it is all there. Unless there is an obvious hunk missing, or there is only half of it.

 

[MamaRabbit]

You can look at pictures of placentas online! I just can't think of a way to describe it!

 

[arlecchina]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kannon99 You can look at pictures of placentas online! I just can't think of a way to describe it!

I've seen some! they just pretty much all look the same to me, even the ones with calcium

 

[Jane]

Usually, the membranes have a hole in them, and you can tease up the envelope to look at them. The edge of the placenta should meet the membranes, as long as the exit hole is not on the edge. If it's on the edge...well, you piece the membranes back together and see if it makes a whole balloon the very best you can.
There shouldn't be blood vessels that "end" or chunks missing from the edge.
It's one of those "you know it when you see it" things. If it doesn't look funny, it's OK. If it's not complete, you'll be bleeding more than the one fully soaked (front to back) pad per hour and your milk will be slow to arrive. If you're worried, just save the placenta in the freezer. If all else fails, you can take a better look at it in a few days in good light and bury it if you don't have any reason to look.

 

[arlecchina]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apricot Usually, the membranes have a hole in them, and you can tease up the envelope to look at them. The edge of the placenta should meet the membranes, as long as the exit hole is not on the edge. If it's on the edge...well, you piece the membranes back together and see if it makes a whole balloon the very best you can. There shouldn't be blood vessels that "end" or chunks missing from the edge. It's one of those "you know it when you see it" things. If it doesn't look funny, it's OK. If it's not complete, you'll be bleeding more than the one fully soaked (front to back) pad per hour and your milk will be slow to arrive. If you're worried, just save the placenta in the freezer. If all else fails, you can take a better look at it in a few days in good light and bury it if you don't have any reason to look.

thankyou for your info! I cant quite visualise it all but I think I get enough to feel I can recognise it by knowing if something is wrong.

freezing it, urh. hmm. I dont actually intend to cut the cord (lotus birth) so I am sure I will have time to examine it once it's drying out a little

 

[Jane]

That's even better - I like the idea of the placenta as a living organ. It seems appropriate to keep it room temp.

 

[2bluefish]

I just got to peak at mine this time - looked just like a textbook picture - whole and round. We have it in the freezer, and before we burry it, I intend to thaw it and give it a better look. I was too tired after my first to even care to look, and I have regretted that. So this time even though we transported, we asked to take home the placenta. I'm just a little concerned my mom will think it is a caserole and defrost it when she comes!! LOL!

 

[BirthkeepinSister]

Mine also looked whole and round.. When I saw mine, I could tell that no pieces were missing, because there was nowhere on the whole thing, where a piece could be added without it looking funny. There's was a clear bag attached to a round piece of red placenta. One side of the placenta is smooth, and one side looks rough, and has more texture. I think that if I piece of placenta the size of a strawberries were missing, it would know it. I've read many UC's birth stories, where a small part of the placenta comes out later.
Mine just plopped out as soon as I stood up, about 15-20 after the birth.

 

[doula mary]

One consideration..if you question at all..if any part was retained..is to take a look at your milk supply. Often ( not always)....if you have a retained piece...your supply..once it comes in will be low.

Gushing blood during the postpartum period is a clue too.

Mary

 

[lanielayne]

okay. I realise it comes out, it can take up to an hour etc on it's own, I accept that etc.

Haven't read all of the pp's comments but wanted to say that it can take more that an hour for the placenta to come. It took 2 hours with my UC and luckily I had just read a post on a list where a woman's had taken 8 so I didn't worry too much.

 

[arlecchina]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lanielayne Haven't read all of the pp's comments but wanted to say that it can take more that an hour for the placenta to come. It took 2 hours with my UC and luckily I had just read a post on a list where a woman's had taken 8 so I didn't worry too much.

thankyou for telling me, it adds reassurance. I have read birth stories where it took an hour++ and one other besides you that said two, I think I wont be watching the clock anyways

I feel I will know at the time but as I havent done it yet, I still get worried about little things like these.

 

[Kidzaplenty]

For all my full term babies, my placenta delivered within 5 minutes of the baby. However, I had a miscarriage the end of June at 18 weeks. So I basically had a regular delivery, just a tiny baby. The placenta for that birth did not come out until 36 hours later. I had a UC/MC at home. So, I would not worry about any retained placenta unless I developed infection signs.

 

[arlecchina]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kidzaplenty For all my full term babies, my placenta delivered within 5 minutes of the baby. However, I had a miscarriage the end of June at 18 weeks. So I basically had a regular delivery, just a tiny baby. The placenta for that birth did not come out until 36 hours later. I had a UC/MC at home. So, I would not worry about any retained placenta unless I developed infection signs.

I am sorry for your loss. could not have been easy- thankyou for advising

 

[nznats]

Dunno if this will help, but I had a c-section and they left a very large piece behind (think the size of a large womans palm) plus other little bits... I noticed at 7 days PP, after discharge from hospital and everything being seemingly fine, that my daughter decided to want to be fed constantly (and my milk had well and truly come in by then, so she wasnt starving) was pretty unsettled and didnt want to be away from me. I didnt have any abnormal bleeding till later on the 7th day and other than tired, a dull ache in my uterus and recovering from the section everything else felt fine... I truly believe listening to my body, and listening to my daughter saved my life and fertility as I caught it just as the infection was starting.
It can take a few hours, without anything being amiss... I cant recommend what to look for as I never got to see mine (although they said it was complete) but def listen to your body