Illustration of a section through the pelvis of a woman who has just given birth showing a midwife's hand inserted into the uterus (womb) via the vagina to try to extract a retained placenta. The placenta is a temporary organ that connects a developing foetus to its mother. A retained placenta is one that has not been delivered 30 minutes after childbirth. If not removed it can cause life-threatening blood loss or severe infection. From New Dictionary of Practical Medicine and Surgery by Dr Jaccoud Vol. 11 (1869).