A Positive Approach to Physiological Third Stage of Labour: Optimising Psychophysiological Care

Abstract

It is the midwife’s responsibility to demonstrate self-awareness and understand their own fears and anxieties around providing care during physiological third stage of labour and identify ways to improve their knowledge, skills and confidence. Midwives must understand normal physiology to comprehend the influence their own practice can have on the delicate interplay of hormones and physiological responses during the third stage. The maternal body has an array of physiological apparatus to protect the mother against post-partum haemorrhage (PPH), yet active management of labour is still the most preferred way of delivering care during the third stage of labour, despite a lack of good-quality research evidence. Midwives should endeavour to provide a birthing space which protects the mother, becoming her midwifery guardian and supporting her internal power to believe in her body’s ability to birth her own placenta without complications.