By PPH Foundation
Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) can turn an otherwise uncomplicated birth into a life-threatening emergency within minutes. Yet surviving severe bleeding is not only about what happens when haemorrhage begins. It also depends on whether health facilities are prepared to recognise excessive blood loss early, respond quickly, access essential medicines and blood, communicate effectively and continue supporting a woman after the immediate danger has passed.
This makes PPH a patient-safety issue. Patient safety is concerned with preventing avoidable harm during healthcare, and maternal care is no exception. For a woman experiencing PPH, delays in recognising bleeding or initiating treatment can rapidly worsen her condition. Research on PPH detection and management has shown that many PPH-related deaths are preventable when bleeding is identified early and treatment is initiated promptly (Mousa et al., 2023).
The importance of rapid and coordinated care has also been reinforced by recent evidence and updated global guidance. The World Health Organization's consolidated 2025 recommendations emphasise prevention, early detection and timely treatment of PPH, including rapid use of uterotonics, tranexamic acid, intravenous fluids, assessment of the source of bleeding and escalation of care when necessary (WHO, 2025). A first-response approach is important because treatment should not wait for a woman to become critically ill before action is taken.
Beyond clinical interventions, patient safety also depends on how well maternity teams work together. PPH can require several actions at the same time: measuring blood loss, administering medication, establishing intravenous access, arranging blood, monitoring the woman's condition and preparing for referral or further intervention. Evidence from care-bundle studies suggests that coordinated approaches can improve the timeliness and effectiveness of PPH management (Gallos et al., 2024).
For Dr Eunice Atsali, a midwife, Co-Lead of the End PPH Initiative and a PPH survivor, the importance of coordinated emergency care is personal. Speaking about PPH response, she emphasised the importance of teamwork and simulation drills: “We train maternity teams to act fast and in sequence. The moment heavy bleeding is detected, everyone has a role; one measures blood loss, another prepares medication, and another calls for help. Speed and coordination save lives” (Atsali, as cited by PPH Foundation, 2026).
Her observation reflects a wider principle of patient safety: a skilled health worker cannot work effectively in isolation when a woman is haemorrhaging. The facility must have the medicines, blood, equipment, trained personnel, communication channels and referral systems needed to support rapid action.
Safe maternal care also extends beyond the emergency itself. A woman who survives severe PPH may experience anaemia, weakness, psychological distress, difficulty breastfeeding or other challenges during recovery. The quality of care after the immediate crisis therefore matters as much as the emergency response. WHO's approach to maternal health emphasises care across pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period, recognising that women need continued support beyond delivery (WHO, 2025).
As the world marks World Patient Safety Day on 17 September, the message for maternal health is clear: safer care requires systems that are ready before an emergency occurs. For women at risk of PPH, safety means early recognition, rapid treatment, reliable blood systems, effective teamwork and continued care after the bleeding has been controlled.
Preventing avoidable harm in childbirth is not only about responding well when something goes wrong. It is about building maternity services where the right people, resources and systems are ready to act when every second matters.
References
Gallos, I. D., et al. (2024). Effectiveness of care bundles for prevention and treatment of postpartum haemorrhage: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology.
Mousa, H. A., et al. (2023). Factors influencing postpartum haemorrhage detection and management in low-resource settings. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth.
World Health Organization. (2025). Consolidated guidelines for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of postpartum haemorrhage. Geneva: WHO.
World Health Organization. (2025). Postpartum haemorrhage: WHO recommendations and guidance. Geneva: WHO.
Image by karlyukav on Magnific</a>