Postpartum bleeding exceeding 500 mL after delivery is called?

• A. Endometritis
• B. Postpartum hemorrhage
• C. Uterine atony
• D. DVT

Answer: (B)

Heavy bleeding after delivery is evaluated by how much blood is lost. If the blood loss is more than about 500 mL following a vaginal birth, the condition is described as postpartum hemorrhage. This term specifically names the problem of excessive postpartum bleeding, regardless of the underlying cause.

Uterine atony is a common reason this occurs—when the uterus doesn’t contract effectively, bleeding can be heavy—but the term for the event itself remains postpartum hemorrhage. Endometritis refers to an infection of the uterus after birth, not the amount of bleeding. A DVT is a blood clot in the veins and is unrelated to postpartum vaginal bleeding.