The postpartum part of birth is the last stage of labor. Labor is divided into three stages and the last of these stages is called the placental stage, or delivery of the afterbirth. It occurs generally within ten to fifteen minutes after the actual childbirth is complete. The placenta is separated from the uterine wall and expelled as the afterbirth. Forceful contractions of the uterus characterize this stage. Constriction of uterine blood vessels occurs to prevent hemorrhage. In a normal delivery, blood loss doesmycontentbreak not exceed 350 milliliters, or roughly three-quarters of a pint of blood.