Risk of Severe Postpartum Hemorrhage in Low-Risk Childbearing Women in New Zealand: Exploring the Effect of Place of Birth and Comparing Third Stage Management of Labor

Background Primary postpartum hemorrhage is a leading cause of maternal mortality and morbidity internationally. Research comparing physiological (expectant) and active management of the third stage of labor favors active management, although studies to date have focused on childbirth within hospital settings, and the skill levels of birth attendants in facilitating physiological third stage of labor have been questioned. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of place of birth on the risk of postpartum hemorrhage and the effect of mode of management of the third stage of labor on severe postpartum hemorrhage. Methods Data for 16,210 low-risk women giving birth in 2006 and 2007 were extracted from the New Zealand College of Midwives research database. Modes of third stage management and volume of blood lost were compared with results adjusted for age, parity, ethnicity, smoking, length of labor, mode of birth, episiotomy, perineal trauma, and newborn birthweight greater than 4,000 similar to g. Results In total, 1.32 percent of this low-risk cohort experienced an estimated blood loss greater than 1,000 similar to mL. Place of birth was not found to be associated with risk of blood loss greater than 1,000 similar to mL. More women experienced blood loss greater than 1,000 similar to mL in the active management of labor group for all planned birth places. In this low-risk cohort, those women receiving active management of third stage of labor had a twofold risk (RR: 2.12, 95% CI: 1.39 similar to 3.22) of losing more than 1,000 similar to mL blood compared with those expelling their placenta physiologically. Conclusions Planned place of birth does not influence the risk of blood loss greater than 1,000 similar to mL. In this low-risk group active management of labor was associated with a twofold increase in blood loss greater than 1,000 similar to mL compared with physiological management. (BIRTH 39:2 June 2012)