The placenta is said to be retained when it is not expelled out even

Appeared in: UPPSC 2022

Explanation

A retained placenta is clinically defined as the failure of the placenta to be expelled within 30 minutes after the birth of the baby.
The third stage of labor, which involves the delivery of the placenta, normally concludes within 5 to 15 minutes of the baby's birth.
A delay beyond the 30-minute window is a medical concern because it significantly increases the risk of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) and maternal infection.

Option B: Waiting for 60 minutes is too long and deviates from the standard clinical definition. This delay substantially increases the risk of severe bleeding.
Option C: A 75-minute delay is excessively long and would be considered a critical obstetric emergency, not a diagnostic criterion.
Option D: A 100-minute delay is far beyond any clinical guideline and would be associated with a very high probability of life-threatening postpartum hemorrhage.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Definition and time frame for retained placenta as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
A retained placenta is a major cause of primary postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), a leading cause of maternal mortality. Prompt recognition and management are critical nursing responsibilities.
Nurses must closely monitor the time elapsed after delivery, assess for signs of placental separation (e.g., a sudden gush of blood, lengthening of the umbilical cord, and the uterus becoming firmer and rising in the abdomen), and frequently check uterine tone.
What if? If the patient has a history of a prior retained placenta or a preterm delivery, the nurse should be on high alert, as these are significant risk factors for recurrence. Prophylactic measures and preparations for manual removal should be considered earlier.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core concept of the question, which is the clinical definition of a 'retained placenta'.
Recall the specific time frame that defines this condition in standard obstetric practice.
Recognize that this is a factual recall question related to the stages of labor.
Evaluate the given options. The standard definition used in clinical practice is 30 minutes.
Eliminate the other options (60, 75, and 100 minutes) as they represent significant and dangerous delays beyond the standard diagnostic criterion.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QLpCkqHMvbID0KAcD0tJSp

E6 Midwifery Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing Sandeep Kaur p. 1-3

E6 Obstetrics Williams p. 13-28

Practise the full UPPSC 2022

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.