Postpartum Hemorrhage
Written by: Wahida Sabir
Sometimes postpartum mothers could have a variety of problems, including postpartum hemorrhage. According to obstetricians, up to 500 ccs of blood after childbirth is called normal bleeding, which comes out of the mother's uterus in the form of interruption, but if the bleeding flows without interruption, it is dangerous. AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to some mothers and physicians about this issue.
A woman from Panjshir province says, “I faced profusely bleeding after giving birth to my baby and I fainted four times.”
A woman from Farza district, Kabul province says, “I gave birth to a child at home and faced postpartum hemorrhage and I think that my soul was leaving my body.”
Doctor Sayeda Sayed, a gynecologist and obstetrician at Malalai maternity hospital, Kabul city says, “Postpartum hemorrhage could cause asthenia, anemia, low blood pressure and even death of the patient.”
What do some patients think about the causes of postpartum hemorrhage?
A woman from Qarabagh district, Kabul province says, “I gave birth to a child at home and there was no one to help me. The placenta was trapped and I faced postpartum hemorrhage.”
A woman from Kabul province says, “I was suffering from labor. My husband brought me some medicines from the medical store and after taking the medicines, I faced sudden postpartum hemorrhage.”
Doctor Sayed says, “There are many causes of postpartum hemorrhage. Trapping the placenta, sticking a piece of placenta, high blood pressure, blood diseases and mother’s uterus tearing are the most causes of this problem.”
How do some patients treat postpartum hemorrhage at home?
A woman from Kabul province says, “Once I faced postpartum hemorrhage when I was delivering my baby at home. They put two pillows beneath my legs and prepared a mixture of milk with two eggs yolk and I ate them.”
I gave birth to a baby at home and I faced postpartum hemorrhage and as the treatment of this disease was not possible at home, they took me to the doctor.”
Doctor Sayed says, "The assistance that could be given to this type of patients until they take to the doctor are: First, keep the patient's feet high with two big pillows, put a piece of a wet cloth or a piece of ice on the abdomen of the patient and move her face to the side that she could easily breathe.”
How do patients prevent postpartum hemorrhage?
A woman from Kabul province says, “I am the mother of two children. I go to the doctor during my pregnancy several times and I have not experienced postpartum hemorrhage yet.”
A mother, a resident of Nangarhar province says, “I regularly go to the doctor during my pregnancy till seven months and do my ultrasound and if there is a problem, the doctor will tell me that there is a problem, and she will suggest me to visit my doctor for delivering my baby.”
Doctor Sayed says, “The patient should visit the doctor before getting pregnant and check her blood not to have any issue like suffering from blood sugar and she should regularly visit her doctor during her pregnancy and chick her blood pressure and should deliver her baby in a maternity home.”