Ok just read something that has inspired a question........

With an APH ( Antepartum Haemorrhage) how on earth do you measure the bleeding in mill's?? Is it just a 'guestimation'?

The thread in the glossary section says: "bleeding from the genital tract any time after the 24th week of pregnancy...of greater than 500ml. A major obstetric haemorrhage is described as being greater than 1,000ml"

I know that a little blood goes a long way, so how is this measured so accurately with such a spreadable medium???

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Hi
Funnily enough I went out with an old school friend last night who is a RM and I asked her that same question....I was basically talking about my own birth of my youngest and how after being low risk care, I ended up with an assisted delivery due to fetal distress and prolonged 2nd stage....on my records the EBL is stated as 900mls but as I recounted my "birth story" she said I'd had an APH...I then asked the question HOW did they know what the blood loss was? She did say it's very much a guesstimate but I guess like anything, with practice and experience you get pretty adept at making a good guess.
xxx

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Karen
Starting access course Sept 08 (hopefully!!)

it is a combination of 'guestimation' and weighing of soaked sanitary towels, sheets, incontinence pads , clothing etc and measuring of blood collected from the floor (depending on the extent of the haemorrhage). we also undertake regular 'skills drills' when we use fake blood, throw it all over the place and practise estimating the amount that's there - this is great fun!!

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Hammer Horror movie here I come!! lolol

Thanks for the replies by the way! I had my suspicions it was only 'guessing'..thanks!

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ohh this sounds great I can't wait to have a go at this
I take someone will no the actual amount of the fake blood that has been spilt,
I can Imagine people would get quite competitive trying to quess the exact amount of fake blood. x x

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Yes and you will supprise yourself at how wrong your guestimates are!
KS x

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"It's better to be thought a fool - rather than proved a fool!"

Hi

Take a look at this....................


http://www.bmfms.org.uk/docs/Guide%20to%20Aid%20Visual%20Estimation%20of%20Bloo d%20Loss%20at%20Obstetric%20Haemorrhage.pdf.

That's a really useful poster - thank you!

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3rd year Student Midwife

That is a superb visual thanks Caz!! I am surprised by the 1000 to 2000ml though...

The 1000ml looks like a lot but the liquid spilt on the floor doesn't look as much as spread out on the bed! The same goes for the 1500ml...I suspect it is hard for me to recognise just how much is there because the only point of reference that I recognise is the kidney dish!!

Like some of you have already said, it is a matter of experience learning the amounts - but once again thanks Caz...this will be a big help in the begining!

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Thats a really useful poster x

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Wolves Sept 2008
SM.NET Project Manager
SM.NET Wolves Student Rep