it makes it much easier to push the placenta out. Has anyone ever done this, or know anything about it? I read it in one of my birthing books but I have never heard it anywhere else.
2007-10-27 02:08:10 · 7 answers · asked by Heather R 6 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
I have gathered from many different books that breastfeeding causes the uterus to contract. This is what actually expells the placenta or forces it out.
So YES breastfeeding aids the expulsion of the placenta.
Women who do not breastfeed are usually given a dose of the Pitocin (the artificial version of Oxytocin, the hormone release during breastfeeding that stimulates uterine contractions) to do the same effect.
And no doctor should ever pull on the placenta for any reason, there is a chance of tearing it and causing severe damage to the mother (death by hemmorhage). The body will expell it within an hour naturally.
2007-10-27 02:30:42 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
It's because breastfeeding produces the hormone that helps to shrink your uterus back to it's pre-pg state and to do that it needs to get rid of the placenta.
Also, whilst your breastfeeding you'll be more focused on your new baby than delivering the placenta, so it may also be a mental thing that mothering instinct kicks in and your body just wants to finish off so that you can get on with what your bodies been preparing you for over the last 9 months.
2007-10-27 09:17:26 · answer #2 · answered by sc_the_idiot 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Breastfeeding post delivery actually promotes uterine contractions which will help you "deliver" the placenta and will also help clamp/shrink the uterus and stop you from bleeding.
This is encouraged if your uterus remains "boggy" post delivery and if you encounter excessive bleeding. Pitocin is a medication that is used to stimulate uterine contractions so if you are not "up" for immediate breastfeeding, don't worry.
2007-10-27 09:30:13 · answer #3 · answered by kflan2000 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
One of mine was born in the car. She was hungry at birth, so I breastfed her immediately. It helps the uterus contract to expel the placenta and control bleeding. My uterus was very tight when I got to the birth center.
2007-10-27 10:39:14 · answer #4 · answered by pennypincher 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
breastfeeding makes you contract supposedly helping the placenta out-some babies want to eat straight away my daughter started sucking her blanket!!
2007-10-27 10:11:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
i am 33 weeks pregnant breastfed straight after my other two where born but in england they give you an injection to get the placenta out you dont have to do anything
2007-10-27 09:11:44 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
I breasfed both my children as soon as they were born, and yes they give you an injection for the placenta,
2007-10-27 09:22:11 · answer #7 · answered by monkey 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋