Placenta delivery techniques were taught to me when I was studying basic midwifery in London many years ago. I recall the demonstration with a smile every time my hand goes to a uterus after the birth of a babe and before the placenta comes out. The Sister asked one of my classmates to stand up and put her arms out; she threw a sheet over her and said, "This is the uterus, tubes and ovaries." She then jabbed the student moderately firmly in the sides, making her jump and quickly bring down her arms. Sister then said, "When you are getting impatient waiting for the placenta to let loose, the first rule is to never fiddle with the fundus! It makes the uterus jumpy, and it clamps down, keeping the placenta trapped for longer than it needs to be. It can lead to hidden hemorrhage between the placenta and uterine wall."
-Roberta Gehrke, CNM
Reprinted from Midwifery Today E-News (Vol 2 Issue 2, Jan 14, 2000)
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