Abstract
Myometrial contractility is integral to the delivery of the placenta and the arrest of potential subsequent haemorrhage. The details of this physiological process are patchy but it is clear that there is an important hormonal contribution. Oxytocin, with or without ergometrine, has thus been widely used with a recognized beneficial treatment effect. This practice, however, was never universal. The injectable nature of these agents restricted their wider use, even in societies with average medical services. The availability of the prostaglandin analogue misoprostol has renewed interest in the third stage of labour, has taken its pharmacological management to new frontiers, and has expanded the therapeutic options for the management of postpartum haemorrhage.