Background
 
Management of 3rd stage of labour with its unpredictable life threaten complication has been debated for centuries and still arouses much discussion. There is some evidence that cord drainage of placental blood may reduce the duration of 3rd stage of labour and the need for manual removal of placenta.
 
 
Aim of the study
 
To evaluate the effectiveness of placental blood drainage via the umbilical cord in reducing the duration and blood loss in 3rd stage of labour and the incidence of PPH.
 
 
Method
 
A prospective study involving 200 women having vaginal delivery were divided into drainage group(100 women) and control  group (100 women)  . The main outcome measures were duration of 3rd stage and amount of blood loss .
 
Result
 
The mean duration of 3rd stage was ( 5.35+2.3  minutes ) in the study group and (  8.9+4.9 minutes ) in control group. The average blood loss was ( 184.3+118  ml ) in the study group and ( 249.7+147 ml ) in control group. Retained placenta was reported in only two cases of control group which needed manual removal of placenta. One case of postpartum hemorrhage due to inertia required blood transfusion was reported in the control group.
 
 
Conclusion
 
Placental cord drainage is simple ,safe, and non invasive method in reducing the duration and blood loss  in 3rd stage of labour thereby preventing PPH.