Postpartum
haemorrhage (PPH) or haemorrhage after
childbirth is the loss of blood following childbirth resulting in hypovolemia
(decreased blood volume; more specifically, decrease in volume of blood plasma)
or otherwise causing a woman to become symptomatic due to the blood loss (Henry
and Birch, 2005). Some practitioners measure postpartum haemorrhage by a blood loss of greater than 500 ml of
blood following vaginal birth, or 1000 ml of blood following caesarean section.
It is one of the most common causes of perinatal maternal death in the
developing world and is a major cause of maternal morbidity worldwide.
haemorrhage (PPH) or haemorrhage after
childbirth is the loss of blood following childbirth resulting in hypovolemia
(decreased blood volume; more specifically, decrease in volume of blood plasma)
or otherwise causing a woman to become symptomatic due to the blood loss (Henry
and Birch, 2005). Some practitioners measure postpartum haemorrhage by a blood loss of greater than 500 ml of
blood following vaginal birth, or 1000 ml of blood following caesarean section.
It is one of the most common causes of perinatal maternal death in the
developing world and is a major cause of maternal morbidity worldwide.
According to the World
Health Organisation (WHO, 2012), about half a million women die as results of
complications of pregnancy and child birth childbirth. Overwhelming proportions
of these deaths occur in developing countries of the world where facilities are
poorly developed and due to lack of trained attendants at delivery. Majority of
these deaths occur within few hours of delivery and in most cases are due to
postpartum haemorrhage.
Health Organisation (WHO, 2012), about half a million women die as results of
complications of pregnancy and child birth childbirth. Overwhelming proportions
of these deaths occur in developing countries of the world where facilities are
poorly developed and due to lack of trained attendants at delivery. Majority of
these deaths occur within few hours of delivery and in most cases are due to
postpartum haemorrhage.
Postpartum haemorrhage is a
major cause of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide with the highest
incidence in developing countries. According to the WHO (2012) obstetrics
haemorrhage causes 127,000 deaths annually worldwide and is the leading cause
of maternal mortality. While in Africa, due to increased prevalence risk
factors such as grand-multiparity, no routine use of prophylaxis against
obstetrics haemorrhage coupled with poorly developed obstetrics services,
obstetrics haemorrhage is responsible for 30% of the total maternal deaths.
major cause of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide with the highest
incidence in developing countries. According to the WHO (2012) obstetrics
haemorrhage causes 127,000 deaths annually worldwide and is the leading cause
of maternal mortality. While in Africa, due to increased prevalence risk
factors such as grand-multiparity, no routine use of prophylaxis against
obstetrics haemorrhage coupled with poorly developed obstetrics services,
obstetrics haemorrhage is responsible for 30% of the total maternal deaths.
Khan (2006) opined that
postpartum haemorrhage is the excessive loss of blood per vaginam after the
delivery of the baby and up to forty-two days postpartum. It can either be
primary or secondary. Primary postpartum haemorrhage is the loss of more than
500ml of blood within the first twenty-four hours of delivery or loss of any
amount that is enough to cause haemodynamic instability in the mother or loss
of more than 10% of the total blood volume. It is the most common form of post
partum haemorrhage. It has been reported that approximately 3% of vaginal deliveries
is complicated by severe primary postpartum haemorrhage. Secondary postpartum
haemorrhage, on the other hand is defined as bleeding in excess of normal
lochia after twenty four hours and up to six weeks postpartum. In both cases
the true blood loss is often underestimated due to the difficulty with visual
quantification. The risk of dying from postpartum haemorrhage depend not only
the amount and rate of blood loss but also the health status of the woman (Bais,
Eskes, Bonsel and Bleker, 2010).
postpartum haemorrhage is the excessive loss of blood per vaginam after the
delivery of the baby and up to forty-two days postpartum. It can either be
primary or secondary. Primary postpartum haemorrhage is the loss of more than
500ml of blood within the first twenty-four hours of delivery or loss of any
amount that is enough to cause haemodynamic instability in the mother or loss
of more than 10% of the total blood volume. It is the most common form of post
partum haemorrhage. It has been reported that approximately 3% of vaginal deliveries
is complicated by severe primary postpartum haemorrhage. Secondary postpartum
haemorrhage, on the other hand is defined as bleeding in excess of normal
lochia after twenty four hours and up to six weeks postpartum. In both cases
the true blood loss is often underestimated due to the difficulty with visual
quantification. The risk of dying from postpartum haemorrhage depend not only
the amount and rate of blood loss but also the health status of the woman (Bais,
Eskes, Bonsel and Bleker, 2010).
References
Bias, J. M., Eskes, M.,
Bonsel, G.J. & Bleker, O. P. (2010). Postpartum haemorrhage in nulliparous women:
incidence and risk factors in low andhigh risk women. A Dutch population-based cohort
study on standard (>or =500Ml) andsevere (> or = 1000Ml) postpartum haemorrhage.
Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 115:166-72.
Bonsel, G.J. & Bleker, O. P. (2010). Postpartum haemorrhage in nulliparous women:
incidence and risk factors in low andhigh risk women. A Dutch population-based cohort
study on standard (>or =500Ml) andsevere (> or = 1000Ml) postpartum haemorrhage.
Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 115:166-72.
Henry, A. & Birch, M. R.
(2005) Primary postpartum haemorrhage in an Australian tertiary hospital: a
case-control study. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol.
45(3):233-6.
(2005) Primary postpartum haemorrhage in an Australian tertiary hospital: a
case-control study. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol.
45(3):233-6.
Khan, K.S.W. (2006) WHO
analysis of causes of maternal death: a systematic review. Lancet 367:1066-1074.
analysis of causes of maternal death: a systematic review. Lancet 367:1066-1074.
World Health Organization
(WHO) (2012).The World Report 2012. Attending to 136 million births, every
year. Make every mother and child count: Geneva: the World Health Organization.
(WHO) (2012).The World Report 2012. Attending to 136 million births, every
year. Make every mother and child count: Geneva: the World Health Organization.