What is postpartum hemorrhage?

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is excessive bleeding of greater than 500 ml after childbirth. Even a small amount of blood loss can be life-threatening for anemic women—the great majority of women in the developing world. PPH is a major cause of the more than 500,000 maternal deaths occurring annually. Additionally:

At least 25% of maternal deaths globally, and up to 60% in some countries, are due to PPH.
There are 14 million cases of obstetric hemorrhage per year, the majority of which occur postpartum.
Many more women experience long-term morbidity.

Find out more in the PPH factsheet . (92 KB PDF)

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