Obstetrical hemorrhage
Encyclopedia
Obstetrical hemorrhage refers to heavy bleeding during pregnancy
, labor, or the puerperium. Bleeding may be vaginal and external, or, less commonly but more dangerously, internal, into the abdominal cavity. Typically bleeding is related to the pregnancy itself, but some forms of bleeding are caused by other events.
Obstetrical hemorrhage is a major cause of maternal mortality.
, medically also called an abortion. Bleeding from an early miscarriage may be similar to that of a heavy menstruation
, but later on, a pregnancy loss may be accompanied by excessive or prolonged bleeding. A physician may propose to perform a D&C
for treatment. An ectopic pregnancy
may lead to bleeding, internally, that could be fatal if untreated.
can occur as a very serious condition leading to internal or external bleeding. Bleeding from the fetus
is rare, usually not heavy, but always very serious for the baby.
, neoplasm, most commonly cervical cancer
, and hematologic disorders.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy refers to the fertilization and development of one or more offspring, known as a fetus or embryo, in a woman's uterus. In a pregnancy, there can be multiple gestations, as in the case of twins or triplets...
, labor, or the puerperium. Bleeding may be vaginal and external, or, less commonly but more dangerously, internal, into the abdominal cavity. Typically bleeding is related to the pregnancy itself, but some forms of bleeding are caused by other events.
Obstetrical hemorrhage is a major cause of maternal mortality.
Early pregnancy bleeding
The most common bleeding event is the loss of a pregnancy, a miscarriageMiscarriage
Miscarriage or spontaneous abortion is the spontaneous end of a pregnancy at a stage where the embryo or fetus is incapable of surviving independently, generally defined in humans at prior to 20 weeks of gestation...
, medically also called an abortion. Bleeding from an early miscarriage may be similar to that of a heavy menstruation
Menstruation
Menstruation is the shedding of the uterine lining . It occurs on a regular basis in sexually reproductive-age females of certain mammal species. This article focuses on human menstruation.-Overview:...
, but later on, a pregnancy loss may be accompanied by excessive or prolonged bleeding. A physician may propose to perform a D&C
Dilation and curettage
Dilation and curettage refers to the dilation of the cervix and surgical removal of part of the lining of the uterus and/or contents of the uterus by scraping and scooping . It is a diagnostic gynecological procedure.D&C normally is referred to a procedure involving a curette, also called sharp...
for treatment. An ectopic pregnancy
Ectopic pregnancy
An ectopic pregnancy, or eccysis , is a complication of pregnancy in which the embryo implants outside the uterine cavity. With rare exceptions, ectopic pregnancies are not viable. Furthermore, they are dangerous for the parent, since internal haemorrhage is a life threatening complication...
may lead to bleeding, internally, that could be fatal if untreated.
Late pregnancy bleeding
The primary consideration is the presence of a placenta previa, a condition that usually needs to be resolved by delivering the baby via cesarean section. Also a placental abruption can lead to obstetrical hemorrhage, some times concealed.Bleeding during labor
Beside placenta previa and placental abruption, uterine ruptureUterine rupture
Uterine rupture is a potentially catastrophic event during childbirth by which the integrity of the myometrial wall is breached. In an incomplete rupture the peritoneum is still intact. With a complete rupture the contents of the uterus may spill into the peritoneal cavity or the broad ligament...
can occur as a very serious condition leading to internal or external bleeding. Bleeding from the fetus
Fetus
A fetus is a developing mammal or other viviparous vertebrate after the embryonic stage and before birth.In humans, the fetal stage of prenatal development starts at the beginning of the 11th week in gestational age, which is the 9th week after fertilization.-Etymology and spelling variations:The...
is rare, usually not heavy, but always very serious for the baby.
Postpartum hemorrhage
Hemorrhage after delivery, or postpartum hemorrhage, is the loss of greater than 500 ml of blood following vaginal delivery, or 1000 ml of blood following cesarean section.Unrelated bleeding
Pregnant patients may have bleeding from the reproductive tract due to trauma, including sexual assaultSexual assault
Sexual assault is an assault of a sexual nature on another person, or any sexual act committed without consent. Although sexual assaults most frequently are by a man on a woman, it may involve any combination of two or more men, women and children....
, neoplasm, most commonly cervical cancer
Cervical cancer
Cervical cancer is malignant neoplasm of the cervix uteri or cervical area. One of the most common symptoms is abnormal vaginal bleeding, but in some cases there may be no obvious symptoms until the cancer is in its advanced stages...
, and hematologic disorders.