Postpartum hemorrhage is the condition of excessive bleeding that follows the birth of a baby. In case of C-section delivery the possibility of this hemorrhage occurring is greater. Mostly this occurs directly after delivery but it may occur later on also. The first 24 hours after birth is the most likely time for the hemorrhage to occur. This is termed as primary postpartum hemorrhage after the first 24 hours if a hemorrhage occurs in the next 24 hours then it is called secondary postpartum hemorrhage.
Postpartum hemorrhage causes
Normally in a vaginal child birth the amount of blood that is lost is about 500 ml, for a C-section the amount of blood loss is close to 100ml. In a full term pregnancy the amount of blood that flows through the placenta is 600 ml per minute approximately. After delivery the uterus contracts and the placenta is expelled. While the uterus is contracting it compresses the blood vessels that were attached to the placenta. If these blood vessels are not properly compressed by the uterus then bleeding occurs. The free flowing blood without resistance leads to hemorrhage. If some parts of the placenta is left then this also causes bleeding. Failure of the uterus to contract properly is the common cause for postpartum hemorrhage.
Risk factors for postpartum hemorrhage
Risk factors merely increase the possibility of occurrence. Possessing one of the risk factors does not necessarily mean that you will have this problem it merely implies that you are more prone to it. These are not the causes for postpartum hemorrhage.
- Placental abruption – when the placenta gets detached from the uterus before time
- Pregnancy induced hypertension
- Long labor
- overweight
- multiple pregnancy
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are some of the factors that can trigger hemorrhage. Another condition that increases the risk of postpartum hemorrhage is if the amniotic fluid is more or if the baby is large. Placenta previa, medication during labor, tear in uterine blood vessels or vaginal tissues, placenta acreta, placenta increta, placenta percreta are some other risk factors for this hemorrhage to occur.
Postpartum hemorrhage symptoms
Uncontrolled bleeding, lowered blood pressure, increase in heart rate, swelling and aches in the vaginal or perineal areas or both, decrease in the count of red blood cells. These are some of the signs that indicate postpartum hemorrhage.
Postpartum hemorrhage treatment
- Medication
- manual massage of the uterus
- examination of the pelvic tissues
- sponges and sterile materials laced inside the uterus
- laprotomy
- removal of remaining placental pieces
Browse through pregnancyxl.com for information on Obstetrical Complications.
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