The third stage of labor starts after your baby is born and ends with birthing the placenta. Even after your beautiful baby is born your uterus will continue to contract. These contractions are much more mild than the contractions you experience during birth. As your uterus begins to contract and shrink, your placenta will detach from your uterine wall. The blood vessels are then closed off, and the placenta is pushed out. You have some options as to what interventions are employed during this stage. This episode explains all of your choices during the third stage of labor and examines the research to give you all of the information you need to make the right decision for you.