Does postpartum hemorrhage count as dystocia?

Written by Liu Wei Jie
Obstetrics
Updated on September 23, 2024
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Postpartum hemorrhage is one of the very important causes that endanger the lives of mothers. Although hemorrhage is not considered as dystocia, conditions of dystocia can induce severe hemorrhage. This is because complications such as trauma to the birth canal and uterine atony might occur after dystocia. These issues are triggers for severe postpartum hemorrhage. Even in normal cesarean sections, there can be cases of severe postpartum hemorrhage, thus postpartum hemorrhage is not counted as dystocia, but dystocia can easily induce severe postpartum hemorrhage.

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Written by Zhang Yin Xing
Obstetrics
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Does postpartum breastfeeding cause bleeding?

Bleeding caused by postpartum breastfeeding generally occurs within 42 days after delivery, during which the mother has lochia secretion. Breastfeeding promotes the secretion of oxytocin, which acts on the uterus and causes it to contract, facilitating the expulsion of lochia and aiding in the recovery of the uterus. Typically, by 42 days postpartum, the uterus has returned to its non-pregnant size and the expulsion of lochia is essentially complete. Subsequent breastfeeding is not directly related to vaginal bleeding. Another situation is due to the increase in prolactin during lactation; menstrual periods may not have fully resumed in women who are breastfeeding, and abnormal uterine bleeding may occur. As long as the amount and duration of bleeding do not exceed normal menstrual flow, no special treatment is needed.

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Written by Yue Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Measures for postpartum hemorrhage

Postpartum hemorrhage refers to a situation where there is blood loss exceeding 500 milliliters within 24 hours after the birth of a child. Initially, massaging the uterus should be performed, as most of this bleeding is due to poor uterine contraction, and the doctor can press on the uterus from above the patient's lower abdomen. Additionally, high doses of uterotonic drugs can be used to induce uterine contraction. If these measures do not reduce bleeding, packing the uterine cavity with gauze can be employed to stop the bleeding from the uterus. Furthermore, if the bleeding is very severe, embolization of the uterine artery or the internal iliac artery can be done to halt the uterine bleeding.

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Written by Liu Wei Jie
Obstetrics
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Does postpartum hemorrhage count as dystocia?

Postpartum hemorrhage is one of the very important causes that endanger the lives of mothers. Although hemorrhage is not considered as dystocia, conditions of dystocia can induce severe hemorrhage. This is because complications such as trauma to the birth canal and uterine atony might occur after dystocia. These issues are triggers for severe postpartum hemorrhage. Even in normal cesarean sections, there can be cases of severe postpartum hemorrhage, thus postpartum hemorrhage is not counted as dystocia, but dystocia can easily induce severe postpartum hemorrhage.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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How long will it take for postpartum anal fissure bleeding to heal?

Generally, anal fissures that occur postpartum may heal on their own within about a week. For more severe cases, timely surgical treatment is necessary. The specific recovery time also depends on the physical condition of the mother, such as nutritional status, diet, and everyday habits—whether her diet is balanced, whether she drinks enough water, etc., all of which can affect the recovery and progression of the condition. If postpartum women improve their diet by eating more fresh vegetables and fruits, drinking more soups, and developing regular bowel habits to alleviate constipation, the anal fissures can also improve on their own.

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Written by Yue Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Postpartum Hemorrhage Emergency Response Process

Firstly, it is necessary to administer IV fluids to the patient and establish two venous accesses to urgently replenish blood volume. Then, it is important to manage breathing to ensure the patient's airway is clear, and provide oxygen if necessary. Patient's vital signs should also be checked for any abnormalities. Additionally, treatment should be given based on the cause of bleeding. If the bleeding is due to poor uterine contraction, it is crucial to promptly enhance uterine contractions to quickly stop the bleeding. At this time, uterotonic agents can be used, or manual uterine massage can be employed to stem the bleeding. If the bleeding is caused by a surgical incision, then the incision needs to be sutured properly.