How common is heavy bleeding after childbirth?
Your chances of having heavy bleeding after childbirth depend on where you live. It's less likely to happen in developed countries
than in poorer countries.
One study found that about 1 in 25 women in the United States who deliver their baby through their vagina get heavy bleeding afterward.1
It's more common for women to get heavy bleeding in poorer and less developed countries. When women from around the world were included in studies, researchers found that about 1 in 10 get heavy bleeding after delivery.2
In poor countries, women may have many children, or they may not get a lot of care during and after childbirth. These things may make them more likely to bleed heavily after their baby is born.
Sources for the information on this page:
- Maughan KL, Heim S, Galazka SS. Preventing postpartum hemorrhage: managing the third stage of labor. American Family Physician. 2006; 73: 1025-1028. Available at http://www.aafp.org (accessed on 26 February 2008). 16570736
- World Health Organization. World health report 2005: make every mother and child count. Available at http://who.int (accessed on 20 February 2008).
This information was last updated in Feb 28, 2008
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This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved. |
