• Unassisted homebirth – what about post-partum hemorrhage?

    Date: 2010.08.24 | Category: Unassisted Childbirth | Tags: ,,,,

    Post-partum hemorrhage is a relatively rare complication in which the mother loses an excess of blood after she gives birth. In a medical setting, post-partum hemorrhage is most often solved through medications, and even sometimes surgery. But if you are giving birth at home, unassisted by medical professionals, that does not means there is nothing you can do about post-partum hemorrhage. This is a quick guide to treating post-partum hemorrhage and to preventing it from happening.

    A certain amount of post-partum bleeding is normal and healthy, and simply indicates that your blood vessels are reacting to the detachment of the placenta. Post-partum hemorrhage is defined as more than 55 ml, either immediately following birth or in the first few days. This amount is about equal to a cup of blood. If a post-partum mom is showing signs of excessive bleeding, and especially if she is feeling dizzy or showing signs of shock, it is time to act. Some women bleed more than others, and knowing exactly how much blood loss has occurred can be tricky. It is safe to say that going by the overall condition of the mother is the best way of knowing whether immediate treatment is needed.

    Nursing immediately after birth and having direct skin to sin contact with the baby is something most mothers would do naturally. This act can also prevent post-partum hemorrhage by letting the body know that the baby has been born. Nursing encourages the uterus to contract, and can help ease the placenta out. Keeping the mother warm, and making sure that her oxytocin levels are high enough, can encourage the placenta to deliver. Cold temperatures and a shivering mother trigger adrenaline and can cause problems.

    We can distinguish between two types of post-partum hemorrhage – excessive bleeding that occurs before the placenta has been born, which might indicate a placental abruption, and hemorrhage after the birth of the placenta. Hemorrhage is easier to deal with after the placenta has delivered, because ingesting a piece of the placenta, or holding it under the tongue, is one of the most effective natural methods of stopping post-partum bleeding. In cases where the placenta has not yet delivered, or as an alternative to consuming a piece of the placenta, there are herbal tinctures that are effective at stopping post-partum hemorrhage.

    Shepherd’s Purse is the most well known of these. Shepherd’s Purse Tinctures are available to buy online as well as at herbal stores. It is often used to stop all kinds of bleeding, but for post-partum bleeding, placing six to twelve drops under the tongue might stop the bleeding. In addition, there are mixtures called “placenta out” that can help the placenta deliver. Blue cohosh root, motherwort and cayenne pepper tincture can also successfully stop hemorrhage.

    If, after using herbal treatments, the bleeding is not slowing down or stopping, and the mother feels unwell and is showing signs of shock, seeking medical attention is the best approach. However, many people do manage to treat post-partum hemorrhage at home using herbal methods.