The Effect of Placental Cord Drainage on the Third Stage of Labor and the Amount of Postpartum Bleeding

December 9, 2025 updated by: Sinem Gültekin, Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi Gulhane Tip Fakultesi
The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of controlled placental cord drainage by opening the clamp at the maternal end after the umbilical cord is cut during birth on the duration of the third stage of labor (departure of the placenta), the amount of blood loss in the third stage, the amount of bleeding in the 2nd hour postpartum, and the development of postpartum complications.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Although the third stage is the shortest stage of labor, it is also the riskiest. Prolonging this stage increases the risk of complications, particularly postpartum hemorrhage. Therefore, the duration of the third stage of labor should be as short as possible. Internationally accepted labor management guidelines, such as WHO and ACOG, recommend that active management be adopted to shorten the third stage of labor to prevent postpartum hemorrhage. Placental cord drainage is also mentioned in the literature as a method used to accelerate the delivery of the placenta by actively managing the third stage of labor. This method involves clamping and cutting the umbilical cord after the birth of the baby, then opening the clamp at the maternal end of the cord and allowing the blood in the placenta to flow outward. It is suggested that this method will make the placenta smaller and more compact by reducing its volume, thus providing more effective contractions in the uterus and consequently, earlier separation and expulsion of the placenta with less blood loss. This method is implemented as national policy in 32% of maternity units in Belgium, 24% in Portugal, 15% in Norway and Spain, and approximately 14% in Ireland. In our country, physicians and midwives have also been observed using this method when signs of placental separation are delayed. To facilitate placental separation, they open the clamp at the maternal end and allow some blood to flow from the placenta.

A review of studies reveals conflicting results. A Cochrane review of three studies involving 1,257 women reported that placental cord drainage shortened the length of the third stage of labor by an average of three minutes and reduced blood loss by an average of 77 ml. A meta-analysis of nine randomized controlled trials confirmed the effectiveness of placental cord drainage in shortening the length of the third stage, but the results showed that it did not reduce blood loss. However, more recent studies have reached conflicting conclusions. While some studies have found that placental cord drainage produces a significant reduction in postpartum blood loss and the duration of the third stage of labor, others have reported that it has no effect in reducing postpartum blood loss and shortening the third stage of labor. In addition, in all studies conducted on the subject, the incidence of complications such as postpartum hemorrhage, placental retention, hand hallas, additional medication and blood transfusion requirement was found to be lower. However, further studies are needed to determine whether placental cord drainage is effective in shortening the duration of the third stage of labor and reducing postpartum hemorrhage. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of placental cord drainage on the third stage of labor and the amount of postpartum hemorrhage.

The study's results are significant because they add to the growing body of evidence by offering a new perspective on a controversial topic. The interventions implemented in this study are expected to result in a quicker delivery of the placenta, less bleeding, and a lower risk of postpartum complications. All of these benefits will contribute to a smoother delivery process. Complications experienced during the third stage can lead to anemia, necessitate blood transfusions, and delay the initiation of breastfeeding, affecting the health of the newborn. Considering the impact of all these negative effects on hospital costs, the national economy, and health indicators, it would be meaningful to expand the use of placental cord drainage in clinics for the active management of the third stage of labor, provided its effectiveness is demonstrated. Furthermore, considering its minimal effort, low cost, and its potential as an alternative midwifery method in regions where access to oxytocin and methergine is not available, widespread adoption is significant.

Data Collection

When pregnant women are admitted to the delivery room, the purpose, importance, and procedures of the study will be explained to those who meet the inclusion criteria. Written consent will be obtained from pregnant women who agree to participate. Pregnant women will then be assigned to either the intervention or control group based on their corresponding values in a simple random number table generated through www.random.org.

All pregnant women will then be administered a "Pregnancy Information Form," and the labor process will be monitored using a "Labor Monitoring and Evaluation Form." The start and end times of each stage of labor will be recorded using a digital clock, and the duration will be calculated. The time of birth will be considered the start of the third stage.

As soon as the baby is born, the V-drope blood collection bag will be placed appropriately under the woman's hips by the auxiliary staff.

All women in the intervention and control groups will receive prophylactic treatment determined by the physician's order, in accordance with hospital protocols (20 units of synpitan IV bolus in 500cc 5% dextrose).

The umbilical cord will be clamped and cut within 1 minute after the baby's birth.

In the intervention group, after the cord is cut, the clamp will be released, allowing placental drainage into the kidney basin in a controlled manner. This procedure will continue until signs of placental separation are observed. The cord will be re-clamped when at least one of these signs of separation is observed. Signs of separation are expected to occur within 5 minutes, but if no signs of separation are observed within 5 minutes, the procedure will be terminated and the cord will be re-clamped. The midwife will remain with the patient during this time. The placental drainage blood collected in the kidney basin will be measured using a precision digital scale, and the tare value of the kidney basin will be recorded.

In the women in the control group, the routine procedure will be performed, meaning the umbilical cord will remain clamped until the placenta is delivered.

While waiting for signs of placental separation in the intervention and control groups, the woman's pulse and blood pressure will be measured and recorded by another midwife.

In the intervention and control groups, after signs of placental separation appear, the placenta will be delivered using controlled cord traction (Brandt-Andrew maneuver). The cotyledons and membranes will be examined, and the placental thickness and weight will be measured. Uterine tone and bladder fullness will be assessed.

In the intervention and control groups, the time of placental delivery will be recorded using a digital clock. The time between the birth of the baby and the delivery of the placenta will constitute the duration of the third stage of labor.

The amount of blood lost in stage 3 will be calculated by measuring the blood collected in the V-drop in the control group (ml). In the intervention group, the placental drainage blood collected in the kidney basin (grams) will be added to the blood collected in the V-drop (ml). The total amount of blood loss will be calculated in ml. The calculation of the blood in the kidney basin in ml will be made as follows: (The weight of the kidney basin filled with blood after taring ÷ 1.05).

If present, an episiotomy and repair of first- and second-degree lacerations will be performed. In cases where an episiotomy is necessary or first- or second-degree lacerations have occurred, blood from the episiotomy wounds or perineal lacerations will be tamponaded with a sponge and removed to avoid compromising the results.

After an episiotomy or laceration repair, the vaginal and perineal wound length will be measured and recorded with a disposable wound measuring ruler. A physician's order will then be administered according to hospital routines (1x2 amp IM methylerol (ergometrine) for all pregnant women whose blood pressure is not above 140-90 mm Hg). Women will then be dressed in absorbent, leak-proof underwear and taken to bed.

Women will remain under observation in the delivery room for the next two hours to monitor for any postpartum complications. After delivery, vital signs and uterine tone will be monitored according to hospital routine protocol.

Breastfeeding will be initiated within the first half hour after birth, and the start time and duration of breastfeeding will be recorded.

At the end of the second hour postpartum, the leak-proof underwear will be removed and weighed on a precision scale. The amount of blood lost at this stage will be calculated in ml as follows: (Weight of the leak-proof absorbent underwear used - weight before use) ÷ 1.05.

Hb and Hct results of women in the intervention and control groups at the 24th hour after birth will be recorded from the patient file.

The amount of bleeding during pregnancy, as well as all postpartum measurements and assessments, will be performed and recorded by an assistant midwife who is unaware of the pregnant woman's group. This is intended to increase the reliability of the data.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

80

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Zonguldak/Centre
      • Zonguldak, Zonguldak/Centre, Turkey (Türkiye), 67030
        • Recruiting
        • Zonguldak Maternity and Child Diseases Hospital
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Ferhat TÜFEKÇİ, Spc. Dr.
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Nazan KARAHAN, Prof. Dr.
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Sinem GÜLTEKİN, PhD.

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • No problem speaking and understanding Turkish
  • Low-risk pregnant women
  • Vertex presentation
  • 37-41st weeks of gestation
  • There are no complications in the mother or the baby that prevent normal birth.
  • The VAS score for the pain felt by the pregnant woman at the time of admission to the study must be less than 3 (to show that the pregnant women were accepted into the study at a time when their pain was at its lowest and their decision-making ability was at a relatively good level)

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of postpartum hemorrhage
  • History of postpartum hemorrhage in mother or sister
  • Birth interval less than 2 years
  • Anticoagulant use during pregnancy
  • Smoking during pregnancy
  • Those with low Hb values (Hb<11gr/dL)
  • Hematocrit <30

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Placental Cord Drainage Group
In the intervention group, after the cord is cut, the clamp remaining at the maternal end will be released, allowing for controlled placental drainage into the kidney basin. This procedure will continue until signs of placental separation are observed. If at least one of these signs of separation is observed, the cord will be re-clamped. Signs of separation are expected to occur within 5 minutes, but if no signs of separation are observed within 5 minutes, the procedure will be terminated and the cord will be re-clamped. The midwife will remain with the patient at all times during this period.
Procedure: Placental cord drainage
Placental cord drainage is the process of clamping and cutting the umbilical cord after the birth of the baby, then opening the clamp at the maternal end of the cord and allowing the blood in the placenta to flow outward (Soltani et al, 2011; Vasconcelos et al, 2018; Pandey et al, 2019; Upadya et al, 2019; Chaudhary et al, 2020; Kazı et al, 2020; Mittal et al, 2020; Nabıl and Marzouk, 2020; Mansour et al, 2021; El Sayed et al, 2021; Karimi et al, 2022; Wedn and Hassanin, 2022).
No Intervention: Control Group
In the women in the control group, the more routine practice in the clinic will be applied, that is, the umbilical cord will remain clamped until the placenta is delivered.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Determining the duration of the third stage of labor
Time Frame: The time between the birth of the newborn and the delivery of the placenta
In the intervention and control groups, the time of placental delivery will be recorded using a digital clock. The time between the birth of the newborn and the delivery of the placenta will constitute the duration of the third stage of labor.
The time between the birth of the newborn and the delivery of the placenta
Determining the amount of blood lost in the 3rd stage
Time Frame: Until one of the signs of placental separation is seen, maximum 5 minutes
In the control group, the blood collected in the V-drop (ml) will be measured and calculated. In the intervention group, the placental drainage blood collected in the kidney basin (grams) will be added to the blood collected in the V-drop (ml). The total amount of blood loss will be calculated in ml. The blood in the kidney basin will be calculated in ml as follows: (The weight of the kidney basin filled with blood after taring ÷ 1.05) (Asıcıoğlu et al, 2015).
Until one of the signs of placental separation is seen, maximum 5 minutes
Determination of the amount of hemorrhage at the 2nd hour postpartum
Time Frame: Postpartum 0-2 hours
At the end of the second hour postpartum, the leak-proof underwear will be removed and weighed on a precision scale. The amount of blood lost at this stage will be calculated in ml as follows: (The weight of the leak-proof absorbent underwear used - the weight before use) ÷ 1.05. (Asıcıoglu et al, 2015).
Postpartum 0-2 hours

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Hemoglobin and hematocrit levels at 24 hours postpartum, changes compared to prepartum
Time Frame: Admission to the delivery room - postpartum 24th hour
Hb and Hct results of women in the intervention and control groups at the 24th hour after birth will be recorded from the patient file.
Admission to the delivery room - postpartum 24th hour
The possibility of developing complications in the third stages of labor
Time Frame: The time from the moment of placental cord drainage until placental separation
Participants will be evaluated for complications such as hypotension, syncope, retained placenta, manual delivery of the placenta, and the need for additional medication.
The time from the moment of placental cord drainage until placental separation
The possibility of developing complications in the fourth stage of labor
Time Frame: Postpartum until the 24th hour after delivery of the placenta
Participants will be evaluated for complications such as atony, abnormal uterine bleeding, and the need for additional medication.
Postpartum until the 24th hour after delivery of the placenta

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi Gulhane Tip Fakultesi

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Ferhat TÜFEKÇİ, Spc. Dr., Zonguldak Maternity and Child Diseases Hospital

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

November 17, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

June 20, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

July 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

November 14, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 9, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

December 12, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

December 12, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 9, 2025

Last Verified

December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • GSBU-SBF-SG-01

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data will not be shared.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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