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WOMEN'S & CHILDREN'S | Family Maternity Center | Pregnancy Resource Center | Pregnancy Library | Labor | Childbirth’s last phase: The afterbirth
Childbirth’s last phase: The afterbirth
You may be so busy concentrating on the delivery of your baby that you forget about the final and shortest stage of labor. The placenta, the human body's only disposable organ, must be expelled. The placenta and fetal membranes are called the "afterbirth." It usually takes about 5 minutes to push it out.
Your uterus will continue to contract as the afterbirth is delivered. This in itself is no small feat, as the afterbirth at full term measures about 7 inches in diameter and is a bit less than 2 inches thick.
Mild contractions finish the job
You may not even notice because you are so busy with your newborn, but you will still have mild contractions that cause the placenta to separate from the uterus. Your uterus will clamp down to stanch the blood flow where the placenta was attached.
Your doctor will check the placenta to be sure it is intact and is completely gone from your body. You will also be checked to be sure your uterus is clamping down properly.
Finally, if you tore during labor or were given an episiotomy, your doctor or midwife will do some stitching to repair the tissues.
Date last reviewed: October 2002.
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