Stakeholders Call for Urgent Action on WHO‑Backed Strategies to Curb Childbirth Bleeding
Global maternal health advocates and stakeholders are intensifying calls for the adoption and implementation of World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed measures to reduce postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), a leading cause of maternal death worldwide.
The urgency follows the release of groundbreaking guidelines by WHO, together with international maternal health organizations, aimed at transforming how bleeding after childbirth is prevented, identified, and treated.
According to the new recommendations, health workers should no longer wait for the traditional 500 mL blood-loss threshold before acting. Instead, clinicians are urged to treat suspected PPH when blood loss reaches 300 mL or when abnormal vital signs, such as low blood pressure or rapid heartbeat, are detected.
To support earlier diagnosis, the guidelines recommend using calibrated drapes simple sheets placed under delivering mothers to measure bleeding accurately.
Once PPH is recognized, the guidelines introduce the “MOTIVE” intervention bundle, a rapid-response package that includes uterine massage, administration of oxytocic drugs, tranexamic acid to reduce blood loss, intravenous fluids, a thorough genital tract examination, and escalation to higher-level care if bleeding persists.
In rare cases where bleeding does not stop, more intensive interventions such as blood transfusion or surgery may be necessary.
Prevention also plays a central role in the WHO strategy. Recognizing that conditions like maternal anaemia greatly increase the risk of postpartum bleeding, the new guidance promotes proactive antenatal care. Routine iron and folate supplementation are recommended for pregnant women, and where needed, intravenous iron therapy may be given. During labour, WHO advises the administration of a quality-assured uterotonic immediately after the baby’s birth — ideally oxytocin – but heat-stable alternatives like carbetocin or misoprostol are recommended in resource-limited settings.
The guidelines also discourage routine episiotomies and emphasize perineal massage during late pregnancy to minimize trauma.
Leading voices in women’s health are urging governments, health systems, donors, and training institutions to act quickly.
Experts stress the need for broad adoption and investment in midwifery and maternal care to make these lifesaving measures a reality. The guidance comes with practical tools, including simulation-based training and national-level implementation guides, developed to support rapid adoption of recommended practices.
Regional groups are also rallying behind the recommendations, citing evidence that the care bundle approach significantly reduces severe bleeding and maternal death.
Despite the availability of such evidence-based strategies, many stakeholders remain concerned about inconsistent uptake — especially in low – and middle-income countries, where the burden of PPH is highest.
Advocates are pressing for stronger health system support, training, and funding to ensure that more women benefit from these life-saving practices.
As global leaders mark these new WHO guidelines as a turning point, maternal health campaigners emphasize that saving lives will depend not only on publishing recommendations but on putting them into practice rapidly and universally.
