Afterbirth

Definition

Afterbirth is the placenta and other tissues that are expelled from the uterus following the delivery of a baby. It occurs during the third stage of labor, completing the childbirth process.

Related terms

Placenta:

An organ that develops in the uterus during pregnancy, providing oxygen and nutrients to and removing waste from the fetus through the umbilical cord.

Uterus:

A muscular organ in women's bodies where offspring are conceived and in which they gestate before birth; also plays a key role in menstruation and fertility.

Labor:

The process by which contractions of the uterus expel a fetus, marking the stages of childbirth