Meds for Postpartum Hemorrhage (PPH)

In this lesson I will explain the medications used for postpartum hemorrhage and your role in administering these.

So the last thing we want is to have our patient deliver and then hemorrhage. So typically immediately after the placenta delivers oxytocin will be given. This will cause uterine contraction and vasoconstriction at the placental site to clot and decrease bleeding. Now what if the patient is still having heavy bleeding? We can give methylergonovine or methergine, carboprost Tromethamine or hemabate. There are extra assessment pieces for these medications so let’s look at that.

So our assessment is going to look at the bleeding. Is there heavy bleeding and we need medication or have we given medications and are they working? Does the patient have hypertension? So all of these medications cause vasoconstriction but methylergonovine should not be given to patients with HTN and is contraindicated. So if your patient has hypertension and is hemorrhaging and the doctor orders methergine just clarify “The patient has hypertension do you still want to give the methergine?” Does the patient have asthma? Carboprost can cause bronchospasms so it is contraindicated with asthma.
Our management will be to treat the patient with pain medications because giving medications that is going to increase uterine contractions will cause pain. Necessary pain but can still offer pain relief. We also want to keep an eye on the blood pressure and monitor for any hypertension. We will educate the patient on what to expect and the importance of using the medication. So it’s going to cause some intense cramping but it is needed to decrease the bleeding.

Onto the concepts. Pharmacology because its medications. Safety because the medications are given for to decrease bleeding and clotting because we need the medications to be given to cause uterine contractions to vasoconstrict and clot off the bleeding.

Let’s review our key points. Methylergonovine or Methergine, Carboprost Tromethamine or hemabate, and Oxytocin or Pitocin are medications used to treat postpartum hemorrhage. They all work to cause uterine contraction and slow bleeding. And remember that methylergonovine should not be used if the patient is hypertensive and Carboprost Tromethamine should not be given to asthmatics.

Make sure you check out the resources attached to this lesson and review the key points. Now, go out and be your best selves today. And, as always, happy nursing.