By PPH Foundation
Every year, thousands of women experience postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), a condition that remains the leading cause of maternal deaths worldwide. Yet many of the risk factors associated with severe bleeding during and after childbirth can be identified and managed long before labour begins through regular antenatal care attendance.
Health experts continue to emphasize that antenatal care is not simply a routine requirement during pregnancy. It serves as a critical opportunity to identify and manage conditions that increase the risk of postpartum haemorrhage, including anaemia, high blood pressure, placental abnormalities, multiple pregnancies, and other maternal health complications. Women who miss antenatal appointments are more likely to arrive at delivery with undetected risks, reducing the chances of timely intervention and appropriate birth planning.
The World Health Organization recommends quality antenatal care throughout pregnancy as an essential strategy for preventing maternal complications and improving birth outcomes. WHO further notes that access to skilled care before, during, and after childbirth remains one of the most effective ways to reduce preventable maternal deaths.
Recent research continues to demonstrate the importance of identifying risk factors before delivery. A 2024 study published in BMC Public Health found that prenatal anaemia significantly increased the likelihood of postpartum haemorrhage. The study highlights the importance of routine antenatal screening and treatment of anaemia during pregnancy as part of efforts to reduce severe maternal bleeding.
Antenatal clinics also provide opportunities to educate mothers on birth preparedness, recognize danger signs early, plan for skilled delivery, and ensure referral systems are in place should complications arise. Through these visits, healthcare workers can monitor maternal wellbeing, track fetal development, and develop individualized care plans for women with high-risk pregnancies.
Dr Kireki Omanwa, Co-Lead of the End Postpartum Haemorrhage Initiative, says antenatal care remains one of the most important investments a pregnant woman can make for her own safety and that of her baby.
“Many of the factors that contribute to postpartum haemorrhage can be detected and managed during pregnancy if women attend antenatal clinics consistently. Antenatal care allows healthcare providers to identify risks early, prepare for safe delivery, and intervene before complications become life-threatening. Every antenatal visit is an opportunity to protect both mother and child,” says Dr Omanwa.
Despite improvements in maternal healthcare, barriers such as distance to health facilities, financial constraints, lack of awareness, cultural beliefs, and delayed care-seeking continue to prevent some women from attending recommended antenatal visits. Public health experts warn that these missed opportunities can leave serious conditions undiagnosed until labour or childbirth, when intervention becomes more difficult.
As countries work towards reducing maternal mortality and ending preventable deaths from postpartum haemorrhage, strengthening antenatal care attendance, improving access to skilled healthcare services, and increasing community awareness remain critical priorities. Every clinic visit brings mothers one step closer to a safer pregnancy, safer delivery, and healthier outcomes for both mother and baby.
Sources
- World Health Organization. Maternal Mortality. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2025. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-mortality.
- World Health Organization. WHO Recommendations on Maternal Health: Guidelines Approved by the WHO Guidelines Review Committee, 2nd Edition. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2025.
- Okunade KS, Adejimi AA, Olumodeji AM, et al. Prenatal anaemia and risk of postpartum haemorrhage: a cohort analysis of data from the Predict-PPH study. BMC Public Health. 2024;24:1028.
- World Health Organization. WHO Recommendations on Antenatal Care for a Positive Pregnancy Experience. Geneva: World Health Organization. Available through NCBI Bookshelf.
- World Health Organization. Maternal and Reproductive Health. Geneva: World Health Organization.
- Image by DC Studio on Magnific</a>