Postpartum hemorrhage

Childbirth hemorrhage- definition

Postpartum hemorrhage is one of the complications of both natural childbirth and cesarean section. A perinatal hemorrhage is considered to occur when blood loss within 24 hours of natural childbirth is 500ml, or 1000ml in the case of cesarean section. However, different definitions of hemorrhage apply. Attention should also be paid to the decrease in hemoglobin and hematocrit.

What are the causes of labor hemorrhage?

Among the main causes of perinatal hemorrhage are. Problems related to uterine atony (that is, failure of the uterus to contract properly after delivery), placental tissues left in the uterus, injuries to the cervix, vagina or perineum, as well as various types of coagulopathies (blood clotting problems).

There is a higher risk of hemorrhage in female patients, among others. with polycystic, obesity or uterine myomas, as well as in multiple pregnancies.

How to deal with labor hemorrhage?

To prevent postpartum hemorrhage after the birth of the baby, drugs such as oxytocin or carbetocin are used to properly contract the uterus. If there are risk factors for hemorrhage, such as multifetal pregnancy, fetal macrosomia and uterine atony in an earlier delivery, carbetocin is used instead of oxytocin.

In the event of a labor hemorrhage, medical personnel have established regimens in the form of, among other things. finding the cause of excessive bleeding or administering drugs to stop it. Often such a situation requires quick decision-making to keep blood loss as low as possible. The occurrence of hemorrhage also often requires transfusion of red blood cell concentrate and plasma to offset the effects of blood loss.