One of Childbirth’s Deadliest Complications
When Australian food influencer Stacey Hatfield welcomed her first child in September 2025, there was every reason to believe she, her newborn son, and husband would soon begin their life together as a family. Instead, Hatfield died shortly after delivery from a severe postpartum hemorrhage, a complication that can cause life-threatening blood loss in a matter of minutes.
Her story has turned the spotlight on postpartum hemorrhage, one of the leading causes of maternal mortality worldwide. Approximately 27 million women worldwide experience excessive bleeding after birth, and nearly 43,000 die as a result. The condition also places a significant financial burden on health systems, costing more than $10 billion annually.
The encouraging news is that experts say many of these tragedies are preventable. New guidelines published in The Lancet highlight more effective approaches to preventing, detecting, and treating postpartum hemorrhage, with the potential to significantly improve outcomes for mothers.
One key issue is that blood loss after delivery is often underestimated because healthcare providers rely on visual estimates rather than direct measurement. In fact, visual estimates can miss nearly half of all cases. Researchers recommend using calibrated measurement tools and beginning treatment as soon as excessive bleeding is accompanied by signs that a mother's condition is worsening.
Studies also show that timely intervention can make a critical difference. A simple, five-step emergency treatment protocol has been shown to reduce the progression to life-threatening hemorrhage by as much as 60%. The approach allows nurses and midwives to begin treatment immediately without waiting for a specialist, saving precious time when every minute matters.
Another recent study supports this approach. Researchers evaluated a program called E-MOTIVE in hospitals across several African countries. The program focuses on two key steps: accurately measuring blood loss after childbirth and starting treatment immediately when excessive bleeding is detected. They found that this approach reduced severe postpartum hemorrhage complications by 60%.
Researchers also identified several opportunities to reduce the risk of hemorrhage before delivery. This includes treating anemia during pregnancy, reducing unnecessary cesarean sections, and ensuring women receive medications that help the uterus contract after birth.
If you have a child or a loved one, who was affected by an injury during childbirth, and you believe negligence may have been involved, contact us. Tom Duffy is a top Philadelphia birth injury attorney in Philadelphia.