Approximately, half a quart of blood is lost after the birth of a single baby with a vaginal birth. In a caesarian birth, however, this is escalated to approximately 1 quart. The majority of PPH happens immediately after delivery, but it can also occur later.

Causes of PPH

The uterus will typically continue to contract to expel any placenta after a baby has been delivered. Upon delivery, these contractions compress bleeding vessels where the placenta was attached. If the uterine contractions are not strong enough, these blood vessels will cause hemorrhaging. This is a natural cause, but one that can lead to serious injuries if a doctor does not catch it quickly. Whether the cause of excessive bleeding is obstetric or not, a prompt response can save the mother’s life as well as the baby.

Bleeding can also be likely in situations in which tiny pieces of the placenta stay attached. Some individuals face a higher risk of excessive hemorrhage than others, and it is the responsibility of the doctors and other medical providers on site to ensure that any woman who faces an increased risk of PPH is being monitored closely. The strongest chance of avoiding problems with PPH occurs when physicians understand these risk factors and monitor patients closely to keep the issues from escalating. The following factors can increase the chances for PPH:

There are other non-natural causes for PPH including:

A uterine rupture can be life threatening for the mother, but any of these conditions require insight from a doctor regarding current and future care.

If you have lost a loved one as a result of a doctor's inability to screen for these issues or respond appropriately as they developed, consulting with our maternal death attorneys may be the most important thing you do to help the family recover.