Postpartum hemorrhage: early identification challenges.

Postpartum hemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. The majority of maternal deaths associated with hemorrhage could be preventable. The accurate assessment of blood loss, identification of risk factors and timely recognition of postpartum hemorrhage remain major challenges in obstetrics. It is important to review available modalities for estimation and quantification of peripartum blood loss, the value of risk assessment tools as well as the challenges in early recognition of clinical signs and symptoms of postpartum hemorrhage.