Maternity Nursing Q 109
The placenta should be delivered normally within how many minutes after the delivery of the baby?
A. 5 minutes
B. 30 minutes
C. 45 minutes
D. 60 minutes
Correct Answer: B. 30 minutes
The placenta is delivered within 30 minutes from the delivery of the baby. If it takes longer, probably the placenta is abnormally adherent and there is a need to refer already to the obstetrician.
Option A: The absolute time limit for delivery of the placenta, without evidence of significant bleeding, remains unclear. Periods ranging from 30-60 minutes have been suggested.
Option C: Retained placenta can be defined as lack of expulsion of the placenta within 30 minutes of delivery of the infant. This is a reasonable definition in the third trimester when the third stage of labor is actively managed (ie, administration of a uterotonic agent before delivery of the placenta, controlled cord traction) because 98 percent of placentas are expelled by 30 minutes in this setting.
Option D: Physiologic management of the third stage (ie, delivery of the placenta without the use of uterotonic agents or cord traction) increases the frequency of retained placenta: only 80 percent of placentas are expelled by 30 minutes and it takes approximately 60 minutes before 98 percent of placentas are expelled.