Post delivery bleeding may sometimes turn into haemorrhage. Are you aware of the causes of post delivery haemorrhage? Read on to know more about the common causes of post delivery haemorrhage. In simple terms, when there is a loss of 500ml or more blood within the first twenty-four hours of delivery, it is known as post delivery haemorrhage. This happens in 18% of births across the world. It is an unfortunate condition as doctors do take into consideration the risk factors and are armed with the preventive strategies but in certain cases, the haemorrhage happens to be unexpected and is actually unavoidable. Given below are the common broad reasons that lead to post delivery haemorrhage: In this articleUterine Atony TraumaTissueThrombin Uterine Atony This is found to be the most common cause of post delivery haemorrhage, in around 70% of the cases. In otherwise normal conditions, the uterus contracts to its earlier size after delivery. Ideally, the myometrial contraction takes place and this in turn results in the separation of the placenta and the gradual constriction of the blood vessels. When these factors follow one another, a retroplacental clot is created and the bleeding from the placental bed is stopped, when the separation of the placenta actually happens. Uterine atony refers to the state when the uterine contraction does not happen following the birth of the baby. So, the entire process is stopped due to uterine atony and the woman is exposed to severe blood loss. This condition can be effectively dealt with through the administration of certain uterotonic drugs like oxytocin and misoprostol during the third stage of labour. Trauma This condition is a reference to the tearing or laceration of the genital tract during childbirth. Considered to the second most common cause leading to post delivery haemorrhage, which approximately amounts to twenty percent, trauma is also a condition that involves uterine inversion and uterine rupture. The tearing can happen in three stages: cervical, perennial or vaginal. But according to various studies of cases, the exact site of bleeding often is very difficult to detect. This makes it extremely difficult for the physician to prevent and control the bleeding. Precisely this is one of the reasons why trauma is said to be more difficult to deal with in comparison to atony. In most cases, it is found that balloon tamponades were effectively used to bleeding resulting from vaginal laceration. Tissue Blood clots and retention of certain products that constitute tissues result in almost ten percent of the post delivery haemorrhages. In most of the cases, it follows due to the retention of the placenta. The possible causes leading to this condition can be detected and taken care of by extensive examination of the placenta, a proper exploration of the uterine cavity and finally by manually removing the retained tissue. A timely surgical management can effectively deal with this less serious post delivery haemorrhage cause. Thrombin This condition is defined by an abnormal coagulation process in the woman, whereby, the normal activity of blood clotting is disrupted or does not happen at all. This is a very uncommon cause of post delivery haemorrhage. The deficiency needs to be identified at first and the clotting factor replacement must be arranged in time. With early recognition and proper evaluation, which includes timely treatment, the potential severe outcomes of this reason of post delivery haemorrhage can be effectively dealt with. Immediate fluid resuscitation is very important. There are new technologies and practices evolving everyday in the medical world which can efficiently deal with these four principal causes of post delivery haemorrhage leading to maternal mortality. As stated above, atony and trauma constitute around ninety percent of maternal deaths, while the latter two are less common.
Post delivery bleeding may sometimes turn into haemorrhage. Are you aware of the causes of post delivery haemorrhage? Read on to know more about the common causes of post delivery haemorrhage. In simple terms, when there is a loss of 500ml or more blood within the first twenty-four hours of delivery, it is known as
post delivery haemorrhage. This happens in 18% of births across the world. It is an unfortunate condition as doctors do take into consideration the risk factors and are armed with the preventive strategies but in certain cases, the haemorrhage happens to be unexpected and is actually unavoidable. Given below are the common broad reasons that lead to post delivery haemorrhage:
Uterine Atony
This is found to be the most common cause of post delivery haemorrhage, in around 70% of the cases. In otherwise normal conditions, the uterus contracts to its earlier size after delivery. Ideally, the myometrial contraction takes place and this in turn results in the separation of the placenta and the gradual constriction of the blood vessels. When these factors follow one another, a retroplacental clot is created and the bleeding from the placental bed is stopped, when the separation of the placenta actually happens.
Uterine atony refers to the state when the uterine contraction does not happen following the birth of the baby. So, the entire process is stopped due to uterine atony and the woman is exposed to severe blood loss. This condition can be effectively dealt with through the administration of certain uterotonic drugs like oxytocin and misoprostol during the third stage of labour.
Trauma
This condition is a reference to the tearing or laceration of the genital tract during childbirth. Considered to the second most common cause leading to post delivery haemorrhage, which approximately amounts to twenty percent, trauma is also a condition that involves uterine inversion and uterine rupture.
The tearing can happen in three stages: cervical, perennial or vaginal. But according to various studies of cases, the exact site of bleeding often is very difficult to detect. This makes it extremely difficult for the physician to prevent and control the bleeding. Precisely this is one of the reasons why trauma is said to be more difficult to deal with in comparison to atony. In most cases, it is found that balloon tamponades were effectively used to bleeding resulting from vaginal laceration.
Tissue
Blood clots and retention of certain products that constitute tissues result in almost ten percent of the post delivery haemorrhages. In most of the cases, it follows due to the retention of the placenta. The possible causes leading to this condition can be detected and taken care of by extensive examination of the placenta, a proper exploration of the uterine cavity and finally by manually removing the retained tissue. A timely surgical management can effectively deal with this less serious post delivery haemorrhage cause.
Thrombin
This condition is defined by an abnormal coagulation process in the woman, whereby, the normal activity of blood clotting is disrupted or does not happen at all. This is a very uncommon cause of post delivery haemorrhage. The deficiency needs to be identified at first and the clotting factor replacement must be arranged in time. With early recognition and proper evaluation, which includes timely treatment, the potential severe outcomes of this reason of post delivery haemorrhage can be effectively dealt with. Immediate fluid resuscitation is very important.
There are new technologies and practices evolving everyday in the medical world which can efficiently deal with these four principal causes of post delivery haemorrhage leading to maternal mortality. As stated above, atony and trauma constitute around ninety percent of maternal deaths, while the latter two are less common.
