Should I go for physiological or active management during my third stage of labour?

Statistically, over three-quarters of New Zealand births do not have a problem with haemorrhaging of any kind. However, it is important to know of ways that you prevent this during the third stage of labour, when the placenta is delivered. Mothers have two options: expectant physiological system which involves waiting for half an hour to two hours for the body to spontaneously deliver the placenta. The next option is the active management system where you are injected with an ecbolic immediately after the baby is born, combined with tugging on the umbilical cord to assist rapid expelling of the placenta within 5-10 minutes. The latter aids in reducing the risk for postpartum anaemia caused by heavy bleeding by 60%. Currently, low-risk women who had spontaneous normal births are usually administered the physiological system. Talk to your LMC to be guided on your options, especially when there is a likelihood for a high-risk pregnancy. More on these on pages 135-136.