Postpartum Hemorrhage – Why Do They Occur and How to Control?

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One of the complications considered most serious in the puerperium is postpartum hemorrhage, which today has significantly decreased thanks to the greater care of medicine and the fact that women remain hospitalized under medical care after delivery.

 Postpartum hemorrhage when it occurs is after the first few hours after the baby is born, and there is a blood loss greater than 500 ml during normal delivery and greater than 1,000 ml during cesarean delivery , which occurs after the placenta is removed. It happens externally and visually, as it occurs by being expelled through the vagina and are caused by the rupture of the birth canal or even the uterus. It is worth noting that it is different from postpartum menstruation , even when with heavy bleeding.

Insufficient contraction of the uterus can also cause postpartum hemorrhage, along with changes in blood clotting. Internal bleeding may also occur as a result of a blood vessel rupture due to strong pressure and force in the passage of the baby’s head.

In this case, the hemorrhage cannot be visualized externally, but being alerted by severe pain in the area that must be checked by a doctor. The pain is severe and does not stop even with the administration of painkillers, and is confirmed by the appearance of a purple bruise at the site.

When blood loss is abundant, the doctor will indicate blood transfusion so that other organs such as the brain, heart, kidneys and lungs are not affected by this great loss of blood and are also affected with lack of oxygen. delivery is completed in a natural way, disappearing alone, and in addition to the need for blood transfusion, the serum is administered intravenously.

There are some more serious cases, that these procedures mentioned above end up not bringing the expected answer and it is necessary a surgical repair of the damaged tissue or even the removal of the uterus, this last procedure being the last option to solve the problem. It is natural for a woman suffering from postpartum hemorrhage to stay after the fact with an anemic condition and to recommend the use of iron supplements and a better diet for a few months until the condition is regularized.

Other Postpartum Complications

In addition to postpartum hemorrhage, there are other complications that pose danger to both the woman and her baby and must be strictly controlled, otherwise it can lead to death. Infections gain second place among the most serious postpartum complications, and like hemorrhage, infections have decreased considerably due to the extreme care and strict asepsis that is performed during childbirth .

The infection can start in the uterus, in the urinary tract and even in the lungs, experts say that the majority of cases of infections occur due to the rupture of the water bag and a delivery delay exceeding 24 hours, increasing the risks of mommy get an infection. The most obvious symptom of a postpartum infection is a high fever and the doctor should be seen immediately as soon as it is found. If the infection is not diagnosed and treated promptly, it can spread throughout the woman’s body causing serious damage until death.

Another postpartum complication considered quite common is that of urinary incontinence . Normally during pregnancy the pregnant woman already acquires some incontinence, due to the pressure of the uterus on the bladder, but this discomfort will remain for a period that can take an average of two months.

 The problem will go away on its own and may improve more quickly if the woman helps by doing pelvic exercises that can be started in the maternity ward. The strengthening of the muscle of the perineum is indicated for the urinary incontinence to end, but in some cases due to some injuries caused during labor and delivery itself, the woman should seek a specialist for verification.

Some cases require surgical intervention for repairs or just a consultation and treatment with a physiotherapist will resolve the issue. Another major discomfort considered to be postpartum complications is breast injury due to breastfeeding that can cause mastitis . Due to the constant sucking on the nipples next to the baby’s saliva, it can cause cuts across the entire length of the nipples, especially on the nipples.

Mastitis does not usually occur in the first week of breastfeeding , it usually occurs from the second week onwards and presents intense nipple pain, redness and excessive heat in the breasts that can cause fevers and chills. Usually doctors indicate the suspension of direct breastfeeding as soon as the mastitis is diagnosed, requesting that the milk be extracted and given in a way that does not have contact with the nipple, waiting for the total cure to return to normal breastfeeding.

If not treated immediately and in a coherent manner, it can develop into breast obstruction and even a chronic problem. The treatment consists of the use of antibiotics, specific anti-inflammatory ointment and use of a suitable bra to relieve pain and give the breasts more firmness. All postpartum complications must be monitored by the gynecologist or obstetrician responsible for your pregnancy, in case of any different symptoms seek your doctor immediately.

See also: Complications in Childbirth – Fear Inevitable

Dr. Alexis Hart
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My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.

Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.

Dr. Alexis Hart

My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.

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