Re: [ozmidwifery] not weighing placentas

[Andrea Quanchi]

I think it was stopped more as a result of lack of research to show why it was done. I always thought we did it as students more out of interest because healthy placentas usually weigh around 1/6 the weight of the baby so it was a way for those new to view placentas to gauge whether the size was approx appropriate to the baby's weight.

I have never seen or heard of any evidence to suggest any value in weighing so have quit the process many years ago

Andrea Quanchi
On 22/08/2005, at 4:24 PM, Helen and Graham wrote:

Does anyone have research to support the discontinuation of weighing placentas as a routine practice?  I have worked in places that stopped doing it years ago and feel anecdotally that weighing placentas has no clinical benefit.  However, I don't know if it has been discontinued as a result of any particular research study.......My current work place continues to carry out this practice and I would like to be able to give them research based evidence to support my suggestion to change their policy.
 
Thanks
 
Helen