Postpartum Hemorrhage, Article Review Example

Moonstone (2013) examines postpartum hemorrhage from the preventive perspective. The author states that midwives should always assume that women’s bodies are able to carry out natural processes, and intervention should only be used when it is found necessary. The article does not only clarify postpartum hemorrhage causes and definition, but also provides practical information for health care professionals on when to intervene and how to identify risks. Moonstone (2013) states that active and thorough observation is essential to timely intervention. She also indicates that just because the placenta is born late, but there is no internal bleeding, no intervention is necessary. Even if there is excessive bleeding, the best method of intervention should be to start the delivery of placenta, instead of more intruding ways.

Interestingly, the author does not promote medication or infusion; she simply offers natural, non-intrusive methods, such as skin-to-skin contact between the mother and the newborn, or breastfeeding, provided that there is no shock. Moonstone (2013), working as a midwife and midwifery educator based her study on both evidence-based research and experience. Her advice is easy to follow for new and experienced midwives, and confirmed by related studies. She advises against using medication, based on their side effects. As she confirms based on a study, the use of oral misoprostol can increase the amount of blood lost instead of stopping internal bleeding. Her views are summarized simply as: “Midwives should be attentive, while trusting that a majority of the time with low-risk normal births, he birth processes works fine”(Moonstone, 2013, p. 32). The article has been very informative, and should be used by all new midwives as a reference. In practice, and during learning, many health care professionals forget that childbirth is a natural process, and women’s bodies are generally designed to carry out the task on their own.

References

Moonstone, B. A. (2013) Preventing postpartum hemorrhage by respecting the natural process of third stage. Midwifery Today. Spring 2013.