Effect of placental cord blood drainage in vaginal delivery on the blood loss during third stage of labor

Abstract

Background: LABOR is defined as a series of events that take place in the genital organs in an effort to expel the viable products of conception (fetus, placenta and membranes) out of the womb through the vagina into the outer world.(2) Stage three of labor begins with expulsion of the fetus with expulsion of placenta and membranes.(2) Postpartum hemorrhage is defined as excessive blood loss of about 500 ml following vaginal delivery and 1000ml following cesarean delivery, that which adversely affects the general condition of the patient with rise in pulse rate and fall in blood pressure.(1) PPH occurs in 5% of all deliveries and is responsible for a major part of maternal mortality. The present study was undertaken to assess the effect of draining cord blood of placenta after vaginal delivery as a part of management of stage three of labor in minimizing the blood loss during the third stage of labor thereby precluding postpartum hemorrhage.