Excessive loss of blood from the uterus or vagina after delivery. Postpartum hemorrhage often occurs when the muscles of the uterus do not contract enough to cause it to shrink and compress the blood vessels inside. It can also occur if bits of the placenta remain inside the uterus and prevent it from tightening up sufficiently. Cervical or vaginal tissue is sometimes torn during delivery, which can also lead to bleeding. Treatment includes medications that help the uterus contract. Any fragments of placenta are removed, and any tears are stitched closed.
Hemorrhage that occurs after childbirth. It is a major cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in childbirth. Early postpartum hemorrhage is defined as a blood loss of more than 500 ml of blood during the first 24 hr after delivery. The most common cause is loss of uterine tone caused by overdistention. Other causes include prolonged or precipitate labor; uterine overstimulation; trauma, rupture, or inversion; lacerations of the lower genital tract; or blood coagulation disorders. Late postpartum hemorrhage occurs after the first 24 hr have passed. It usually is caused by retained placental fragments.