How long is the critical period for postpartum hemorrhage?

Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
Updated on February 03, 2025
00:00
00:00

Postpartum hemorrhage generally occurs within 24 hours after giving birth, and sometimes it can occur 1-2 weeks postpartum. It is important to pay special attention during this time to see if there is an increase in vaginal secretions or bleeding. Generally, after giving birth, it is necessary to observe in the delivery room for two hours; if there is no bleeding within those two hours, the patient can be moved back to the ward. The main causes of postpartum hemorrhage include poor contraction of the uterus, retained placental tissue, abnormalities in the coagulation function of the woman's blood, and tears in the birth canal.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
44sec home-news-image

Does postpartum hemorrhage require a blood transfusion?

The definition of postpartum hemorrhage is bleeding greater than 500 milliliters approximately 24 hours after vaginal delivery. Whether blood transfusion is necessary for postpartum hemorrhage mainly depends on the specific amount of bleeding. For average women, if the hemoglobin level is normal before delivery and the bleeding is between 500-1000 milliliters, the body can compensate for the anemia through normal adjustments, and generally, a blood transfusion is not required. However, if the bleeding exceeds 1000 milliliters, this situation is considered massive hemorrhage and must be treated with a blood transfusion, otherwise it may lead to hemorrhagic shock or DIC (Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation).

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yue Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
43sec home-news-image

Causes of Late Postpartum Hemorrhage

Late postpartum hemorrhage is most commonly caused by retained placenta and membranes. About ten days after childbirth, the patient may experience significant bleeding due to the degeneration and necrosis of the retained placental and membrane tissues within the uterine cavity. When these necrotic tissues are shed, it can cause the blood vessels to open and lead to bleeding. Additionally, poor healing of the placental site on the uterus can also cause bleeding, as can infections, with endometritis being relatively common. Inflammation can lead to poor healing of the placental attachment site or poor uterine contraction, resulting in significant uterine bleeding.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Wei Jie
Obstetrics
40sec home-news-image

Does postpartum hemorrhage count as dystocia?

Postpartum hemorrhage is one of the very important causes that endanger the lives of mothers. Although hemorrhage is not considered as dystocia, conditions of dystocia can induce severe hemorrhage. This is because complications such as trauma to the birth canal and uterine atony might occur after dystocia. These issues are triggers for severe postpartum hemorrhage. Even in normal cesarean sections, there can be cases of severe postpartum hemorrhage, thus postpartum hemorrhage is not counted as dystocia, but dystocia can easily induce severe postpartum hemorrhage.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Wen Li
Obstetrics
53sec home-news-image

Does postpartum hemorrhage affect appetite?

Postpartum hemorrhage can be significant, leading to anemia, which in turn affects appetite. After anemia occurs, the blood supply to the gastrointestinal tract is reduced, causing relative hypoxia and impacting the function of the gastrointestinal tract, thereby affecting appetite. If the postpartum bleeding is minimal and consists only of normal lochia, it generally does not affect appetite. Furthermore, whether postpartum hemorrhage affects appetite also greatly depends on individual differences. Regardless of its impact on appetite, postpartum recovery requires comprehensive and adequate energy intake to ensure physical recovery and milk secretion. Therefore, it is important to eat more and include a diet rich in protein and nutrients for better recovery.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Wei Jie
Obstetrics
51sec home-news-image

What are the warning signs of postpartum hemorrhage?

Postpartum hemorrhage generally does not have warning signs but usually has precipitating factors. These factors include maternal fear, psychological tension, macrosomia or twin pregnancy, as well as conditions like uterine fibroids, placental abruption, or placenta previa. In cases of placenta previa during a cesarean section, there is a high likelihood of severe bleeding. There is only one condition that might signal an impending postpartum hemorrhage, which is placental abruption. If placental abruption occurs, it can cause severe abdominal pain along with issues of hypertension during pregnancy. If a person with pregnancy-induced hypertension experiences severe abdominal pain, this could be a precursor to postpartum hemorrhage.