Abstract
Placental birth (or more commonly known as the third-stage of labour) is known as the time from the birth of the baby to the complete expulsion of the placenta and membranes. International studies have demonstrated that there are considerable differences in the way in which care is provided during this time1-4. A significant complication of the third stage of labour is postpartum haemorrhage (PPH). Despite the routine use of active management of placental birth (current recommendation aimed at reducing PPH), PPH rates in high resource countries continue to rise5. Retrospective studies have found an association between physiological third stage care (for low-risk women) and a reduction in PPH6,7. The mounting evidence questioning active management for all women8,9 and evidence supporting placental transfusion (delayed cord clamping) to neonates10, warrants an urgent need to explore how this has impacted upon midwives' and doctors' practice and any possible associations this may have with maternal morbidity and adverse events.