Postpartum haemorrhages (PPH) can never be totally prevented but there are things the caregiver and woman can do to reduce the chances of a large blood loss occurring after the birth, or reduce the physical reactions the woman will have if she does bleed heavily.
These include:
Routine oxytocin injection
Having a normal haemoglobin level
Precautionary measures
Routine oxytocin injection
Giving an oxytocin injection routinely for the 3rd stage of labour (also known as 'actively managing' the 3rd stage) shortens the duration of the 3rd stage (or time to deliver the placenta). In most cases it also increases the uterus' ability to contract more effectively.
Actively managing the 3rd stage tends to reduce the average amount of blood the woman can lose (statistically about 80 mls). It contributes to a 2 to 3 times less chance of experiencing a mild to moderate postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) and slightly less chance of a severe PPH. This is because the degree of blood lost is associated with how quickly the placenta separates and is expelled from the uterus and how effectively the uterine muscles contract around the torn blood vessels where the placenta was attached.
Active management of the 3rd stage also reduces the chances of the woman needing further doses of oxytocic drugs for continued bleeding and a slightly less chance of her needing a blood transfusion for a severe PPH. Other associated benefits with preventing a postpartum haemorrhage are possibly less tiredness (and possibly less depression) that can follow from being anaemic (or having a low haemoglobin).
An actively managed 3rd stage is routinely given to most women who have their babies in a delivery suite. Despite its routine use though, the postpartum haemorrhage rate will still tend to be about 6%. The use of oxytocin injections tends to reduce the incidence down to this level from about 9 to 18%, depending on the risk factors (or categories) of the woman.