Post partum hemorrhage is a serious and potentially life threatening complication of child birth. It can happen after both vaginal and c section births. About four percent of women experience post partum hemorrhage after the birth of their babies.
If a woman is bleeding excessively after the birth of a baby, doctors will perform certain tests to get a definitive diagnosis. There are other causes of bleeding that will be ruled out, including lacerations, retained placenta and uterine rupture.
Diagnosis is made using a few techniques. One is blood work. Doctors are looking at hemoglobin and hematocrit levels in the blood to help arrive at a correct diagnosis. Ultrasound may be done to get a look inside the uterine cavity to ensure there are no other causes of the bleeding.
Once the doctor has diagnosed the problem as post partum hemorrhage, there are a range of possibilities to treat the condition. This generally includes checking the uterus for atony, which is a soft uterus that isn’t constricting as it should. In some cases, massaging the uterus can help it contract and stop the bleeding.
Drugs such as pitocin may be administered. This medication works by causing the uterus to contract, as it does in labor induction or augmentation. This may be enough to stop the hemorrhage and avoid more serious complications. Prostaglandins are sometimes used for the same purpose. Other medications, including ergonovine, methylergonovine and carboprost may be given to control bleeding and cause uterine contractions.
In some cases, if a significant amount of blood is lost, a blood transfusion may be needed. In this case, your blood will be typed to ensure you are getting the right type of blood. In some cases, giving the wrong blood can be deadly. For this reason, they will most likely test the blood, even if you know your blood type.
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