International health organisations, led by the World Health Organization (WHO), have released new clinical recommendations aimed at eliminating preventable deaths from postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), the world’s leading cause of maternal mortality. The updated guidance consolidates prevention, detection, and treatment strategies to strengthen maternal care in every setting, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where the burden remains highest.
Unified Global Guidelines to Improve Maternal Outcomes
The recommendations, developed jointly by WHO, FIGO, and the International Confederation of Midwives, introduce a “treatment bundle” model that combines proven interventions such as the use of uterotonic drugs, tranexamic acid, and controlled uterine massage. The guidance also prioritises accurate measurement of blood loss rather than visual estimation, a common source of delayed diagnosis. According to WHO, more consistent implementation of these steps could save tens of thousands of lives each year.
Evidence from major clinical trials, including the E-MOTIVE study, supports the new framework, showing that early detection paired with bundled care can reduce severe outcomes by up to 60 percent. The guidance calls on all health systems to integrate these measures into standard obstetric practice and to ensure that staff receive continuous training in emergency response.
Global Call to Action on World PPH Day
The launch of the new recommendations coincides with the first-ever World Postpartum Haemorrhage Day, created to raise awareness and encourage national governments to prioritise maternal safety. WHO officials described the move as a “critical step” toward ending preventable maternal deaths by 2030. The agencies are urging countries to update national protocols, improve supply chains for essential medicines, and reinforce frontline services so that every woman receives prompt, effective care after childbirth.
With PPH responsible for approximately 45,000 deaths annually, the global health community views this initiative as a turning point in reproductive health. The unified approach aims to ensure that no woman dies from bleeding after giving birth—an outcome that experts say is entirely within reach with the right systems and political will in place.
