A Consultant Gynaecologist and Obstetrics at NISA Premier Hospital, Jabi Abuja, Dr Moses Fache, said bleeding in pregnant women should be managed with “paramount magnitude’’.
Fache gave the advice in an interview with newsmen weekend in Abuja.
He said that bleeding in pregnancy was one of the many conditions that could threaten the well being of both mother and the foetus.
The consultant said that bleeding in pregnancy had been noted as one of the leading causes of maternal mortality in our environment.
Fache identified many factors associated with bleeding in women of reproductive age, adding that these constituted abnormalities.
“Bleeding in pregnancy and abnormal bleeding during and after birth signify abnormality that should be treated urgently,” he said.
Fache explained that bleeding early in pregnancy was referred to as “threatened miscarriage” and such woman was at risk of losing the pregnancy.
“Bleeding at the early stage of pregnancy is caused by abnormalities in the developing foetus.
“Some of these abnormalities cannot be prevented but in some cases avoiding drugs known to cause fetal developmental abnormalities and avoiding exposure to heavy radiations.
“Febrile illnesses like malaria and urinary tract infection are also known to cause bleeding in early pregnancy.
“Malaria can be prevented by preventing mosquito bites and using drugs known to malaria attacks in pregnancy,” said the consultant.
He also said that pregnancy located outside of the normal site of implantation in the womb could cause bleeding in pregnancy.
According to Fache, bleeding in the course of pregnancy may be due to abnormalities in placenta location within the uterus or premature separation of the placenta before the baby is born.
He, however, said that such abnormalities were unpreventable and they could be caused by accidental blows to the pregnant woman.
The consultant explained that the use of drugs could prevent the separation of the placenta and led to bleeding.
Fache said that bleeding during pregnancy occurred when the womb failed to contract well enough at delivery.
“Bleeding can result from delivery by caesarean section or as a complication or previous caesarean section.
“Having caesarean delivery at a centre with high standards can minimise such bleeding occurrences,” he said.