In the last stage of labor, called the delivery of the placenta, the so-called «fetal appendages», which provided protection and nourishment to the fetus during pregnancy, are expelled: the amniochorionic membranes, the placenta, and the umbilical cord.
A newborn's umbilical cord, shortly after birth, is an extremely rich source of stem cells, useful for treating various diseases, including some forms of leukemia, lymphoma, and anemia.
After the baby is born, parents face three possible choices:
- discard the umbilical cord
- donate it to a public bank
- store it in a private bank
To understand the difference between the latter two options, it's important to point out that donating your baby's cord to a public bank is free of charge. The cord will be used for medical research or for patients who could benefit from it, but the family will no longer be able to access it in the future. If, on the other hand, you choose to store it in a private bank, you'll be able to access it at any time, but the annual cost involved is not negligible. A great deal of research is being carried out in this field to develop innovative therapies for various conditions, with the goal of making future new treatments safe, effective, and accessible to everyone who needs them.
About 15 to 30 minutes after the baby is born, uterine contractions resume, no longer felt as painful, leading to the expulsion of the fetal appendages and a moderate amount of blood.
The midwife checks the integrity of the expelled placenta which, as it detaches from the uterine wall, creates a kind of wound that causes the postpartum blood loss. These are the «lochia», which gradually taper off over the following days. At this stage, a medication is usually given to promote uterine contraction. Before the mother is discharged from the delivery room, it's necessary to check that the uterus has contracted, that is, that it is able to limit blood loss and return to its pre-pregnancy size by the end of the following 40 days.
Breastfeeding the newborn stimulates the secretion of a hormone (oxytocin) that supports this process and can sometimes cause uterine contractions felt as uncomfortable during breastfeeding itself.
In cases of fatigue due to blood loss from childbirth and breastfeeding, China rubra (7 or 9 CH) in granules may be helpful. The bark of the cinchona tree is also used as an herbal remedy for digestive purposes, as an antimalarial, or for asthenia and anemia, but this use is contraindicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding, when it should only be taken in homeopathic dilution.