Wearable Sensor Could Detect Postpartum Blood Loss
WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct. 3, 2023 — Postpartum hemorrhage, the leading and most preventable cause of maternal mortality, can be hard to detect, because physiological compensation mechanisms can mask excessive bleeding. In the early stages of hemorrhage, the sympathetic nervous system becomes activated to ensure adequate perfusion of vital organs and, in turn, vital signs remain stable. Worldwide, the most common methods of diagnosing postpartum hemorrhage are visual estimation of blood loss or monitoring of vital signs.