If your placenta is still inside your uterus a half an hour after your baby has been born, the doctor may determine that you have retained placenta. This can cause a dangerous amount of blood loss, so the doctor may start the diagnostic work-up by first determining whether your vital signs are stable and that you are breathing. The doctor will order blood tests in order to determine whether you are becoming anemic. The doctor can also use ultrasound to visualize the inside of your uterus. Retained placenta may be visible.
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