Hello!

16 Comments

Jan Tritten, midwife and the founder and editor-in-chief of Midwifery Today, shares how she  believes we can help prevent a Postpartum Haemorrhage – naturally.

It’s important to understand that birth is a natural hormonal process, Jan says.

When we interfere with the birth process, we interfere with hormones. We create complications that might not exist in a natural setting.

When women give birth in a hospital, they might experience immediate separation as their baby is weighed and tested. They might be given a cleaned and swaddled baby, which has difficulty using its natural feeding instincts.

Their babies might be taken to the nursery for exams or to rest.

We know that both skin-to-skin and breastfeeding naturally trigger the release of oxytocin, which helps to prevent postpartum haemorrhage.

While some believe placing a quarter sized piece of placenta in your mouth can help stop a postpartum haemorrhage, there are also other things we can do to prevent bleeding.

When we let labour begin spontaneously, we reduce the risk of postpartum haemorrhage.

When we don’t try to interfere with labour by speeding it up or inducing unnecessarily, we reduce the risk of PPH.

When we choose not to accept unnecessary c-sections, we reduce the risk of PPH, for future births too. Not only is the risk reduced from having surgery, but retained placenta is a risk factor when a woman has had previous uterine surgery. This too can result in a PPH.

When women are able to follow their natural birthing instincts and give birth in quiet, dimly lit settings, when they are left to nurse and bond with their babies, when they have unrestricted skin-to-skin with their baby, we lower the risk of PPH.

Eating a balanced, nutritious diet during conception and pregnancy is important too.

Being mindful of your iron levels during pregnancy and before the birth can be very helpful. It’s common to be iron deficient particularly in the later stages of pregnancy. Take a quality iron supplement if you are low – speak to a naturopath so you can locate a practitioner strength and quality supplement, which is readily absorbed and gentle on your tummy.

By doing your research, avoiding an unnecessary induction of labour and enjoying skin to skin contact after the birth, you can help reduce your chances of a postpartum haemorrhage, says Jan.Full article here.

I had a PPH with both my children. I was also induced with both, so possibly a link for me as to why I haemorrhaged.

Share your comments below.

Image stock photo

We may get commissions for purchases made using links in this post. Learn more.
  • Thank you for your article. I am due in August with my third child. I hope that I will be able to givebirth completely naturally, as I did with my second child.

    Reply

  • This will definitely help for baby number 3. Thanks!

    Reply

  • Very interesting article.

    Reply

  • Hmm interesting point of view.

    Reply

  • Caroline Lovell died because her midwives followed this BS. Please don’t just accept this misleading and dangerous approach to birth. Ms Lovell bled to death in a dark room and did midwife notice? NO…eating placenta to stop bleeding, are you crazy? It’s just like this poor woman being given a herbal solution after she lost consciousness…..this is dangerous claptrap and you are putting yourself and baby at risk of death. If another woman or baby dies, you should be up for a law suit, promoting misleading and dangerous BS.

    Reply

  • Women – be warned. Please do not take any of this at face value. Caroline Lovell died because her midwives kept her in a dark room and in a pool for too long….the coroner said she bled to death and no one noticed. eating placenta? are you out of your mind? Ms Lovell lost consciousness due to blood loss and they gave her a herbs!; she begged them to take her to hospital, they gave her a paper bag b/c they said she was panicking…..this is what you’re promoting! This is misleading and dangerous. If you post this you should be prepared to be sued b/c if a woman takes your advice and she or her baby die – you could be up before a judge. Anyone wanting more information just google caroline lovell…….coroner said her death preventable and midwife should be charged with criminal act. Please think again. Don’t put yourself and baby at risk.

    Reply

  • I was induced, which failed, then I had a c section. But I had no pph. Thankfully

    Reply

  • I had PPH with both my children .. I went into labor on my own, I didn’t have any drugs, I did bond with both my children straight away .. until I didn’t stop bleeding. Unfortunately both times they didn’t know the cause still don’t and don’t know where the bleeding was coming from I needed a blood transfusion with my first. I did have low iron and was on iron tablets my whole pregnancy and reading this article I am thinking it’s because of my low iron.

    Reply

  • I was induced but luckily didn’t haemorrhage.

    Reply

  • Luckily I’ve never had a PPH with any four of my kids. I totally agree that skin to skin contact is very important but I always thought more for bondibg rather than the release of hormones from feeding. Good to know!!

    Reply

  • Great article, i’ll have to remember this for my next pregnancy

    Reply

  • Does anyone know if Post Partum Haemorage can occur weeks after the birth? I had a C – Section nearly 3 weeks ago and I have had no bleeding until today, today I jave flooded through 3 pads, knickers and pants. It is a little worrying.

    Reply

  • A very interesting article.

    Reply

  • I wouldn’t try a piece of the placenta on my tongue, ew! I also was induced, undiagnosed breech delivery, but I had no issues with haemorrhage. Skin to skin contact is so good for so many things. Who would think something so simple would be so beneficial

    Reply

  • This is a very interesting article. It must be so scary to suffer a postpartum hemorrhage.


    • It happened to a Mum I know. However the Mum had tearing that should have been repaired straight away – not an hour later. The baby was in the room with her, but not close enough for her to even touch her. Every time she cried and she forgot and tried to turn over, she could feel the heavy flow. Needless to say she didn’t go there for her 2nd baby and none of her friends gave birth there.

    Reply

Post a comment
Add a photo
Your MoM account


Lost your password?

Enter your email and a password below to post your comment and join MoM:

You May Like

Loading…

Looks like this may be blocked by your browser or content filtering.

↥ Back to top

Thanks For Your Star Rating!

Would you like to add a written rating or just a star rating?

Write A Rating Just A Star Rating
Join