antepartum

Introduction Obstetric haemorrhage, which includes both antepartum and postpartum haemorrhage, is the leading cause of maternal death worldwide. Within the UK, maternal death from obstetric haemorrhage is uncommon, but it still causes approximately 4-7 deaths per year. Obstetric haemorrhage is a common cause of both maternal and neonatal morbidity. Antepartum haemorrhage (APH) complicates approximately 3-5% of all pregnancies. It is estimated that up to 20% of very preterm babies are born in association with an APH. APH is defined as any vaginal bleeding from 24 weeks gestation until delivery. Bleeding that occurs within the first 24 weeks of gestation is