Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) remains one of the leading causes of maternal mortality and morbidity worldwide. Although effective interventions exist for its prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, their consistent implementation across health systems continues to be a major challenge. These consolidated guidelines aim to provide comprehensive, evidence-based recommendations to improve the prevention, early detection, and management of PPH in all healthcare settings.
The guidelines emphasize that every woman deserves access to high-quality maternal care during pregnancy, childbirth, and the immediate postpartum period. By consolidating previous fragmented and sometimes contradictory recommendations, these new standards create a unified framework to guide healthcare providers in addressing PPH more effectively.
A key aspect of the guidelines is the focus on early diagnosis. Timely identification of PPH can make the difference between life and death, as delayed response often leads to severe complications. The recommendations encourage the use of objective and standardized methods to measure blood loss during childbirth, ensuring that PPH is recognized and managed without delay.
In terms of prevention, the guidelines highlight active management of the third stage of labour, including the administration of uterotonic drugs such as oxytocin immediately after birth. This has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of excessive bleeding. Other preventive strategies include proper management of uterine atony, careful monitoring of high-risk mothers, and strengthening of clinical decision-making protocols at all levels of care.
For treatment, the consolidated guidance outlines a stepwise approach, beginning with first-line interventions such as uterine massage and the administration of additional uterotonics. When bleeding persists, more advanced treatments, including tranexamic acid administration, balloon tamponade, or surgical procedures, should be applied based on the patient’s condition and available resources. The guidelines also emphasize the importance of blood transfusion readiness and multidisciplinary teamwork during emergency management.
Beyond clinical interventions, the guidelines stress the need for strong health system support, including adequate training for healthcare workers, availability of essential medicines and supplies, and clear referral pathways for emergency cases.
Overall, these consolidated guidelines aim to harmonize global efforts in PPH prevention and management, bridging existing gaps in maternal care delivery. By ensuring timely diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and system-wide preparedness, they represent a major step toward reducing preventable maternal deaths and improving outcomes for mothers worldwide.
