During a routine vaginal delivery, a woman usually loses about half a quart of blood. During a cesarean birth, the average is about a quart. Anything more than this average and doctors become concerned. After a baby is delivered, the body naturally, via the uterus, begins to contract. This causes the placenta to expel from the woman’s body. At the same time, the uterus is clamping down, compressing the blood vessels so that the woman stops bleeding. If the uterus is not working properly, al the blood vessels continue to flow causing a hemorrhage.
During pregnancy, all those blood vessels supported life to the placenta. You can imagine just how much blood flow there was to the placenta. Quick detection and treatment of a postpartum hemorrhage is essential. Rapid blood loss quickly turns into shock and can even lead to death.
Postpartum hemorrhage can be caused by other factors. These factors can even place a woman at greater risk for a postpartum hemorrhage.
Postpartum hemorrhage is diagnosed several ways. During and after delivery, in a hospital setting, vital signs are continually monitored. When a woman begins to hemorrhage, her vital signs begin to change. The heart rate begins to increase and her blood pressure begins to decrease. Women who experience postpartum hemorrhage also are noted with increased visual bleeding.
Treatment for postpartum hemorrhage starts with finding the cause of the bleeding. Sometimes the placenta does not fully expel, leaving pieces inside the uterus. If this is the case, the pieces of placenta need to be removed. Sometimes Pitocin is administered via IV line to cause the uterus to contract. If this treatment has not been successful, doctor’s sometimes pack the uterus with sterile gauze sponges to encourage the bleeding to stop. In extreme instances, surgery can be performed to locate the bleeding and tie off free flowing blood vessels. If all else fails, some doctor’s resort to totally removing the uterus. This is called a hysterectomy and is only performed when every other treatment method fails.
After the hemorrhage is successfully treated, it is important for the woman to have fluids and blood replaced. Fluid replacement usually comes in the form of special IV fluids. If a woman’s blood count level is too low, she may need blood transfusions. If blood transfusions are needed, the woman will require extra monitoring of her vital signs and blood levels.
There is no known way to prevent postpartum hemorrhage. There are, however, many factors that place a woman at a higher risk. Women who fall into a risk group need to speak with their doctor prior to going into labor to discuss risks. It is also very important for women to notify their doctors of all health histories.
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