What's the treatment for late postpartum hemorrhage?

Bleeding can become life-threatening, so you'll be hospitalized until it stops. Your caregiver will examine you and start an IV to give you fluid, medication to help your uterus contract, and possibly antibiotics. An ultrasound will be done to see if any placental tissue remains in your uterus.

If there's tissue, your caregiver may need to do a surgical procedure called a dilation and curettage (D&C) to remove it. In extreme cases, if all other attempts to stem the bleeding fail, you will need a hysterectomy.

Once the bleeding has stopped, you'll need to continue getting IV medication, usually for another 24 hours, to keep your uterus well contracted. You may continue to get antibiotics, too.

Your medical team will watch you closely for further bleeding, signs of infection, and to see how you're recovering. You might feel weak and lightheaded, and at first you shouldn't try to get out of bed on your own.

Rest, fluids, a nutritious diet, and prenatal vitamins with folic acid as well as additional iron supplements are essential. In most cases, that's all you'll need to deal with the anemia caused by excessive blood loss. In some cases, though, a blood transfusion is necessary.