Postpartum collapse is a sudden deterioration in the physical and clinical condition of a mother, and it is one of the most feared complications during childbirth. It can occur due to a broad spectrum of causes, and while many of these events are rare, it is important for pregnant women to seek antenatal care from an early stage of pregnancy, no matter their experience level.
Even a woman who has had a routine antenatal period and is going through a normal supervised delivery can have a sudden deterioration in her physical and clinical condition. Some complications, such as anaphylactic reactions, pulmonary embolism, amniotic fluid embolism, or sudden massive blood loss, can cause such events. Postpartum haemorrhage, a significant post-delivery bleeding caused by ruptured uterus or retained products of delivery, is most likely to lead to low blood pressure, rapid heart rate, and cardiac arrest.
This tragic event can happen within 30 minutes of delivery or up to two days afterwards. Symptoms include low blood pressure, inability to get enough oxygen into the tissues, significant difficulty breathing, unconsciousness, seizures, and cardiac arrest. A sudden maternal postpartum collapse can happen in any woman, not due to juju, but because of how unpredictable it is.
In developed countries, a quick diagnosis is accompanied by rapid testing to determine the cause of the woman’s condition. Blood tests for serum electrolytes and full blood count are rapidly performed and results made available within minutes. CT scans of the chest, abdomen, and pulmonary angiography are also completed to locate the problem. Emergency echocardiography and electrocardiograms help with identifying if there has been a possible heart-related event that led to the cascade of crises or if there was a rupture of a major vessel.
However, in most Nigerian public hospitals, many of which often have more than 150 beds, there is a shortage of specialized care facilities like an intensive care unit. The absence of relevant equipment to keep a patient alive when necessary virtually guarantees an inevitable fatality when a catastrophic event occurs.
The antenatal period is the best opportunity to plan for potential problems with any pregnancy, and pregnant women are encouraged to register for antenatal care as early as possible in designated hospitals and maternities.
In conclusion, postpartum collapse is an unpredictable tragedy, and pregnant women should prioritize early, frequent antenatal care to reduce the risk of complications during childbirth.
