Incidence and trends of Postpartum Haemorrhage
PPH accounts for almost one quarter of all maternal deaths worldwide and is the second leading cause of direct maternal mortality in the UK and Ireland. PPH is also a significant contributor to severe maternal morbidity (SMM) and long-term disability. In an Irish context, Major Obstetric Haemorrhage (MOH) remains the most frequently reported SMM event, accounting for over half (51.2%) of reported cases. Alarmingly, the incidence of PPH is increasing both nationally and internationally, for reasons that are not fully characterised. There was a 60% increase in PPH, a 50% increase in blood transfusion, and a 54% increase in MOH, nationally from 2011 to 2018.