The average blood loss for a woman after giving birth would be about 200 to 400 mls, but can be as little as 50 mls or as much as 500mls and still be regarded as being normal. The usual amount of blood loss would be equivalent to the amount you would donate at the blood bank (around 300mls). When this amount of blood is spread over bed sheets it can look like a fair amount, but your caregiver is aware of what can 'look normal' and what can look too much.
The blood loss is recorded by your caregiver as an 'estimated blood loss' or EBL. This is because it is not actually collected and measured, but visually estimated by the caregiver. In actual fact the amount estimated can be fairly inaccurate. It is well known that estimates of blood loss can vary as much as 35 to 50%. So the final amount of blood loss is more like a 'ball park figure'. This can account for different rates of haemorrhages being recorded in different birthplaces or by different caregivers.
Various countries will define a 'normal' amount of blood loss in different ways. Some will say 500mls or less, others 600 mls or less, a few suggest that 1000mls or less is more appropriate as it will normally take a loss as large as this to produce noticeable problems for the woman.
In Australia the definition is approximately 600 mls or less. The conservative estimate is based on a possible 'underestimation' by caregivers. More than 600 mls is classified as a
postpartum haemorrhage or 'PPH'.