Placentas and cord blood

The Midwives' Cauldron

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In this episode, Rachel and I discuss all things placentas!

We look more deeply at the time it takes to transfer blood from the placenta into the baby after birth and what the reason for this is. Rachel makes a stand for the “forgotten placenta” as well as bringing in some blokes named Erasmus from 1796 and Pierre from 1875 to make our jaws drop when she reveals what they were saying about letting the blood from the placenta flow to the baby all that time ago!

And of course, we look further at expectant and active management of the placenta and how this looks in our current day hospital systems, Lotus birth, and the history of ceremonially cutting of the cord. We also dive fully into “confessions of a vampire”, as Rachel puts it!: Cord blood banking and all it entails, according to the current research.

LINKS:
MWT blog posts:

• An actively managed placenta may be the best option for most women
• The Placenta: essential resuscitation equipment
• Cord blood collection: confessions of a vampire-midwife

Research: Birthing the placenta: women's decisions and experiences
Research: Third stage management practices
Rachel Reed: https://www.rachelreed.website/
Patreon donation page:

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