Identifying the needs of women following a severe postpartum hemorrhage

Childbirth is a unique experience for women. In Ireland, major obstetric hemorrhage (MOH) is the most frequently reported severe maternal morbidity (SMM) with an incidence of 3.27 per 1000 maternities. Much is known now about the management of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), and there is some research on women and their partner's experience. Less is known about how the woman feels emotionally following a PPH or what informational needs and emotional support are required. The aim of this study was to understand how women felt after experiencing a severe PPH, to listen to their first-hand experience, and to learn what improvements could be made for future care for women who experience a PPH.

A descriptive, quantitative approach was conducted using semi-structured interviews with women who had a severe hemorrhage (blood loss) of ≥2.5 L between four and fourteen months postpartum.

Five women took part in this study. The women identified a lack of information provided to them about the reason for the significant bleeding. The women voiced they could overhear information about the event discussed between healthcare professionals but not with the woman. The care the women received in the High Dependency Unit (HDU) was significantly different from the care they received in the postnatal wards, and the women were not informed they were clinically well for transfer to the postnatal ward. It was reported that the postnatal wards were busy and short-staffed, and the women looked for more emotional support from staff, which was not available. This had an effect on their recovery in the postnatal period.

The women reported that they wanted more information in the early postnatal period following the event, and some still had unanswered questions at the time of the interviews several months later. Most of the participants did not receive adequate emotional support from the midwives caring for them, which resulted in the participants requesting early discharge home to get emotional support from members of their family.