Midwives' Physiological Approach at the Third Stage of Labour: A Scoping Review

The third stage of labour occurs between the birth of the foetus and the expulsion of the placenta. A major complication during this stage is postpartum hemorrhage, which poses a significant concern for maternal health. To mitigate this risk, active management strategies have emerged, raising concerns about the safety of physiological management following a physiological birth. Midwives play a vital role in ensuring a safe third stage of labour by minimizing medical intervention and preventing postpartum hemorrhage. This scoping review aims to map the evidence on midwifery practices that support a physiological third stage of labour.

We conducted a scoping review using the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. We retrieved articles from PUBMED, PsycINFO (via EBSCO), CINAHL (via EBSCO), LILACS, SCOPUS, ClinicalTrials.gov, Open Science Framework, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, Cochrane Library, and JBI.

The search yielded 2190 articles, with 1779 remaining after duplicates were removed. Screening identified 80 articles for review; 63 were excluded, resulting in 17 articles defining key findings. Two articles contributed to a theoretical framework for a physiological approach. Ten articles further discussed how midwives provide care during this stage to maintain normalcy. Three articles debated the safety of expectant management for low-risk women, while three studies also suggested new risk factors for postpartum hemorrhage.

Midwifery care during the physiological third stage of labour must balance safety and trust in the woman's body. More research is needed to assess expectant management in home births and midwifery-led units, with a focus on individual needs and the long-term impacts of a physiological approach.