iVillage

Hi Mama! (or mama-to-be!)

"Tell us your stage and we'll customize the site just for you! Or" Sign In. Sign Out

Hi Mama! (or mama-to-be!)

"Tell us your stage and we'll customize the site just for you! Or" Sign In. Sign Out
Getting Ready

Trying To Conceive

Am I Pregnant?
1 week 2 weeks 3 weeks 4 weeks 5 weeks 6 weeks 7 weeks 8 weeks 9 weeks 10 weeks 11 weeks 12 weeks 13 weeks 14 weeks 15 weeks 16 weeks 17 weeks 18 weeks 19 weeks 20 weeks 21 weeks 22 weeks 23 weeks 24 weeks 25 weeks 26 weeks 27 weeks 28 weeks 29 weeks 30 weeks 31 weeks 32 weeks 33 weeks 34 weeks 35 weeks 36 weeks 37 weeks 38 weeks 39 weeks 40 weeks 41 weeks 42 weeks
1 week 2 weeks 3 weeks 4 weeks 5 weeks 6 weeks 7 weeks 8 weeks 9 weeks 10 weeks 11 weeks 12 weeks 13 weeks 14 weeks 15 weeks 16 weeks 17 weeks 18 weeks 19 weeks 20 weeks 21 weeks 22 weeks 23 weeks 24 weeks 25 weeks 26 weeks 27 weeks 28 weeks 29 weeks 30 weeks 31 weeks 32 weeks 33 weeks 34 weeks 35 weeks 36 weeks 37 weeks 38 weeks 39 weeks 40 weeks 41 weeks 42 weeks 43 weeks 44 weeks 45 weeks 46 weeks 47 weeks 48 weeks 49 weeks 50 weeks 51 weeks
1 year 13 months 14 months 15 months 16 months 17 months 18 months 19 months 20 months 21 months 22 months 23 months 3 years 3 ½ years 4 years 4 ½ years 5 years 5 ½ years
5 years 6-7 years 8-9 years 10-13 years 14-18 years

Third Stage of Labor

By iVillage Staff - January 1, 1999

0 See all

What's Happening
-- The cord is cut, and the baby is placed on your abdomen.
-- What a mix of feelings: excitement, joy, awe -- and relief!
-- The placenta is delivered -- usually within the first ten minutes, but it occasionally takes longer.
-- Your caregiver will complete whatever care (if any) needs to be done. Cold compresses are often applied to the perineum to ease discomfort and reduce swelling.
-- Many women get afterpains or "the shakes" after birth.

What Helps
-- Touch, caress and cuddle your baby without time constraints. If at all possible, don’t allow your baby to be separated from you.
-- This is a good time for the first breastfeeding, which is enjoyable for mother and baby and also tightens the uterus and decreases bleeding.
-- Most routine infant procedures can be done without removing the baby from you. Request that others such as weighing and eye medication be delayed.

FILED UNDER:

Comments See all

Connect with Us