What should be done after delivery (post partum) to prevent bleeding in the mother and the baby?
Post partum bleeding in women with VWD is more common than in the general population. Therefore, all women should be watched carefully for bleeding in the hours, days and weeks following delivery. The following blood tests need to be done: • VWF and factor VIII levels • hemoglobin (iron level in the blood). If a woman feels her bleeding is excessive, she should immediately notify her obstetrician or hematologist. Women with Type 1 VWD who breastfeed keep the high hormone levels they had during pregnancy. This may protect them from bleeding in the weeks following delivery (post partum). Women who do not breastfeed see their hormone levels fall. This can lower the levels of clotting factors. They can have bleeding problems in the weeks after giving birth. Transfusions of factor concentrates, and even red blood cells, may be necessary. Babies with VWD rarely bleed at birth. Babies with Type 3 VWD, however, may bleed if they undergo surgery, including circumcision.
