Antepartum haemorrhage: A major contributor to maternal and perinatal morbidity in India

Abstract

Antepartum haemorrhage continues to be a serious obstetric emergency. It is associated with several maternal complications such as malpresentation, premature labour, anemia, postpartum haemorrhage, sepsis, shock, and retained placenta. Fetal complications linked to antepartum haemorrhage include premature birth (both iatrogenic and spontaneous), low birth weight, intrauterine death, congenital malformation, and fetal hypoxia. According to the study, antepartum haemorrhage significantly contributes to maternal mortality and morbidity in our country. The most common cause of antepartum haemorrhage is placental abruption, followed by placenta praevia.Caesarean section was the most common mode of delivery. The abruption group showed higher maternal morbidity, including shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and renal failure, and higher fetal morbidity and mortality compared to the placenta praevia group.