A randomised evaluation of two techniques of management of the third stage of labour in women at low risk of postpartum haemorrhage

Objective To determine whether early placental drainage plus cord traction reduces the incidences of manual removal and blood loss, and to determine the risk factors associated with blood loss after delivery.

Design Prospective randomised study.

Setting University teaching hospital, Montpellier, France.

Methods A randomised study compared 239 women who had placental cord drainage plus cord traction with 238 women with expectant delivery. The need for manual removal of the placenta and the drop in haemoglobin after delivery were assessed. The duration of the third stage of labour and the time between birth and the beginning of perineal suturing were measured. Statistical analysis used the paired t test for continuous variables, the Kruskal-Wallis test for nonparametric data and χ² test for categoric variables. Stepwise logistic regression analyses were performed with a drop in haemoglobin as the outcome variable.

Results No significant difference was found in the two groups with regard to the incidence of manual removal of retained complete or incomplete placenta or postpartum haemorrhage. The median values of the duration of the third stage of labour, birth-to-perineal suture time and drop in haemoglobin were significantly lower in the cord drainage group than in the control group. After controlling for confounding variables, parity proved to be the only significant predictor of drop in haemoglobin.

Conclusion Cord drainage decreases the duration of the third stage of labour and reduces blood loss but not the incidence of manual removal of the placenta.