WTF - What the.. Fridays | Uterine / Fundal Massage

Immediately after baby is born and the placenta has been delivered a nurse or doctor will massage your uterus a few times. Health care providers will continue to do this every 15 minutes for the first 2-3 hours after delivery. This procedure can feel invasive and it’s quite an odd feeling. The purpose of this procedure is to help contract the uterus and prevent postpartum haemorrhage and is usually done in conjunction with intravenous Oxytocin, the drug of choice for postpartum haemorrhage; this is called a managed third stage of labour and is common practice in most Canadian hospitals and birthing centres.