Post partum haemorrhage (PPH) is the leading cause of maternal death worldwide. PPH occurs in 5% of all deliveries and is responsible for a major part of maternal mortality. The majority of these deaths occur within 4 hours of delivery, which indicates that they are a consequence of the third stage of labour.

Non fatal PPH results in further interventions, iron deficiency anaemia, pituitary infarction (Sheehan’s syndrome) with associated poor lactation, and exposure to blood products, coagulopathy, and organ damage with associated hypotension and shock.

Since all parturient women are at risk for PPH, care providers need to possess the knowledge and skills to practice active management of the third stage of labour to prevent PPH and to recognize, assess, and treat excessive blood loss.