The Effect of Placental Cord Drainage on the Third Stage of Labor and the Amount of Postpartum Bleeding

Although the third stage is the shortest stage of labor, it is also the riskiest. Prolonging this stage increases the risk of complications, particularly postpartum hemorrhage. Therefore, the duration of the third stage of labor should be as short as possible. Internationally accepted labor management guidelines, such as WHO and ACOG, recommend that active management be adopted to shorten the third stage of labor to prevent postpartum hemorrhage. Placental cord drainage is also mentioned in the literature as a method used to accelerate the delivery of the placenta by actively managing the third stage of labor. This method involves clamping and cutting the umbilical cord after the birth of the baby, then opening the clamp at the maternal end of the cord and allowing the blood in the placenta to flow outward. It is suggested that this method will make the placenta smaller and more compact by reducing its volume, thus providing more effective contractions in the uterus and consequently, earlier separation and expulsion of the placenta with less blood loss. This method is implemented as national policy in 32% of maternity units in Belgium, 24% in Portugal, 15% in Norway and Spain, and approximately 14% in Ireland. In our country, physicians and midwives have also been observed using this method when signs of placental separation are delayed. To facilitate placental separation, they open the clamp at the maternal end and allow some blood to flow from the placenta.

A review of studies reveals conflicting results. A Cochrane review of three studies involving 1,257 women reported that placental cord drainage shortened the length of the third stage of labor by an average of three minutes and reduced blood loss by an average of 77 ml. A meta-analysis of nine randomized controlled trials confirmed the effectiveness of placental cord drainage in shortening the length of the third stage, but the results showed that it did not reduce blood loss. However, more recent studies have reached conflicting conclusions. While some studies have found that placental cord drainage produces a significant reduction in postpartum blood loss and the duration of the third stage of labor, others have reported that it has no effect in reducing postpartum blood loss and shortening the third stage of labor. In addition, in all studies conducted on the subject, the incidence of complications such as postpartum hemorrhage, placental retention, hand hallas, additional medication and blood transfusion requirement was found to be lower. However, further studies are needed to determine whether placental cord drainage is effective in shortening the duration of the third stage of labor and reducing postpartum hemorrhage. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of placental cord drainage on the third stage of labor and the amount of postpartum hemorrhage.

The study's results are significant because they add to the growing body of evidence by offering a new perspective on a controversial topic. The interventions implemented in this study are expected to result in a quicker delivery of the placenta, less bleeding, and a lower risk of postpartum complications. All of these benefits will contribute to a smoother delivery process. Complications experienced during the third stage can lead to anemia, necessitate blood transfusions, and delay the initiation of breastfeeding, affecting the health of the newborn. Considering the impact of all these negative effects on hospital costs, the national economy, and health indicators, it would be meaningful to expand the use of placental cord drainage in clinics for the active management of the third stage of labor, provided its effectiveness is demonstrated. Furthermore, considering its minimal effort, low cost, and its potential as an alternative midwifery method in regions where access to oxytocin and methergine is not available, widespread adoption is significant.

Data Collection

When pregnant women are admitted to the delivery room, the purpose, importance, and procedures of the study will be explained to those who meet the inclusion criteria. Written consent will be obtained from pregnant women who agree to participate. Pregnant women will then be assigned to either the intervention or control group based on their corresponding values in a simple random number table generated through www.random.org.

All pregnant women will then be administered a "Pregnancy Information Form," and the labor process will be monitored using a "Labor Monitoring and Evaluation Form." The start and end times of each stage of labor will be recorded using a digital clock, and the duration will be calculated. The time of birth will be considered the start of the third stage.

As soon as the baby is born, the V-drope blood collection bag will be placed appropriately under the woman's hips by the auxiliary staff.

All women in the intervention and control groups will receive prophylactic treatment determined by the physician's order, in accordance with hospital protocols (20 units of synpitan IV bolus in 500cc 5% dextrose).

The umbilical cord will be clamped and cut within 1 minute after the baby's birth.

In the intervention group, after the cord is cut, the clamp will be released, allowing placental drainage into the kidney basin in a controlled manner. This procedure will continue until signs of placental separation are observed. The cord will be re-clamped when at least one of these signs of separation is observed. Signs of separation are expected to occur within 5 minutes, but if no signs of separation are observed within 5 minutes, the procedure will be terminated and the cord will be re-clamped. The midwife will remain with the patient during this time. The placental drainage blood collected in the kidney basin will be measured using a precision digital scale, and the tare value of the kidney basin will be recorded.

In the women in the control group, the routine procedure will be performed, meaning the umbilical cord will remain clamped until the placenta is delivered.

While waiting for signs of placental separation in the intervention and control groups, the woman's pulse and blood pressure will be measured and recorded by another midwife.

In the intervention and control groups, after signs of placental separation appear, the placenta will be delivered using controlled cord traction (Brandt-Andrew maneuver). The cotyledons and membranes will be examined, and the placental thickness and weight will be measured. Uterine tone and bladder fullness will be assessed.

In the intervention and control groups, the time of placental delivery will be recorded using a digital clock. The time between the birth of the baby and the delivery of the placenta will constitute the duration of the third stage of labor.

The amount of blood lost in stage 3 will be calculated by measuring the blood collected in the V-drop in the control group (ml). In the intervention group, the placental drainage blood collected in the kidney basin (grams) will be added to the blood collected in the V-drop (ml). The total amount of blood loss will be calculated in ml. The calculation of the blood in the kidney basin in ml will be made as follows: (The weight of the kidney basin filled with blood after taring ÷ 1.05).

If present, an episiotomy and repair of first- and second-degree lacerations will be performed. In cases where an episiotomy is necessary or first- or second-degree lacerations have occurred, blood from the episiotomy wounds or perineal lacerations will be tamponaded with a sponge and removed to avoid compromising the results.

After an episiotomy or laceration repair, the vaginal and perineal wound length will be measured and recorded with a disposable wound measuring ruler. A physician's order will then be administered according to hospital routines (1x2 amp IM methylerol (ergometrine) for all pregnant women whose blood pressure is not above 140-90 mm Hg). Women will then be dressed in absorbent, leak-proof underwear and taken to bed.

Women will remain under observation in the delivery room for the next two hours to monitor for any postpartum complications. After delivery, vital signs and uterine tone will be monitored according to hospital routine protocol.

Breastfeeding will be initiated within the first half hour after birth, and the start time and duration of breastfeeding will be recorded.

At the end of the second hour postpartum, the leak-proof underwear will be removed and weighed on a precision scale. The amount of blood lost at this stage will be calculated in ml as follows: (Weight of the leak-proof absorbent underwear used - weight before use) ÷ 1.05.

Hb and Hct results of women in the intervention and control groups at the 24th hour after birth will be recorded from the patient file.

The amount of bleeding during pregnancy, as well as all postpartum measurements and assessments, will be performed and recorded by an assistant midwife who is unaware of the pregnant woman's group. This is intended to increase the reliability of the data.