State of Alaska Epidemiology Bulletin
Annual or other report
Obstetric hemorrhage (OH) is the most common complication of childbirth. Defined as the cumulative blood loss of ≥1,000mL accompanied by signs and symptoms of hypovolemia within 24 hours following the birth process, OH is the leading cause of maternal death, causing >27% of postpartum deaths worldwide. In the U.S., OH remains a prominent factor in maternal mortality, responsible for 13.7% of pregnancy-related
deaths from 2017–2019. This Bulletin describes current trends and characteristics of people experiencing OH in Alaska.