Improving the Diagnosis of PPH – New Global Guidance from WHO, FIGO and ICM

Accurate and timely diagnosis of PPH

A new set of Consolidated Guidelines for the Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Postpartum Haemorrhage, jointly published by the World Health Organisation, the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, and the International Confederation of Midwives, reinforces the importance of objective measurement of blood loss for all women following birth.

Why early and accurate diagnosis matters

Many women worldwide, particularly in low-resource settings, still experience preventable harm due to the delayed identification of excessive bleeding. The guidelines highlight that early recognition of abnormal blood loss enables prompt treatment and can prevent life-threatening complications.

“Improving the diagnosis of PPH as a core element of routine postpartum care, and ensuring that all women receive timely assessment regardless of setting, are essential to reducing global inequities in maternal health outcomes.” – (WHO/FIGO, 2025)

Objective measurement over visual estimation

The new recommendations call for routine, objective measurement of postpartum blood loss to support timely detection and treatment.

Visual estimation — still common in some settings — is “widely recognised as unreliable”, particularly at higher volumes of blood loss.

In many hospitals, clinicians already use quantitative approaches such as weighing swabs or measuring collected blood after birth.

What the new guidance emphasises is the value of systematic, real-time quantification as a standard part of postpartum care — helping teams to recognise excessive bleeding as it occurs, rather than after cumulative assessment.

Recommendation 21 reads:

“For all women giving birth, routine objective measurement of postpartum blood loss is recommended to improve the detection and prompt treatment of postpartum haemorrhage. Methods to objectively quantify blood loss, such as calibrated drapes for women having vaginal birth, can achieve this.”
Recommendation 21, (WHO/FIGO/ICM, 2025)

The role of calibrated drapes

Calibrated blood-collection drapes are highlighted within the guideline as an established method for objectively quantifying blood loss following vaginal birth. They offer a simple, visual means of monitoring ongoing blood loss during the immediate postpartum period — the window when most cases of PPH occur.

The guideline development group reviewed the available evidence and found that calibrated blood-collection drapes provide “more accurate quantification of postpartum blood loss compared to visual estimation.”

They also noted that while other devices, such as trays or jars, are used in some regions, “current evidence does not support the diagnostic accuracy of these alternatives.”

Read the guidelines here →

Supporting clinicians with evidence-aligned tools

At Maternity by Kimal, we share the commitment to advancing maternity care through evidence-based innovation.

Our Ammalife Calibrated Drape enables clinicians to monitor postpartum blood loss in real time, providing a clear visual cue to support early recognition and prompt clinical decision-making in line with international recommendations.

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Maternity by Kimal partners with Make Birth Better to improve maternity outcomes

Maternity by Kimal has entered a new partnership with Make Birth Better, a UK-based organisation of experts working to reduce birth trauma and improve maternity care. Together, we will champion evidence‑informed practice, support clinicians and families, and help drive positive, systemic change across UK maternity services.

Why this partnership matters

Birth trauma has a profound impact on women, birthing people, their families and the professionals who care for them. Research shows at least 1 in 3 women and birthing people find some aspect of their birth traumatic.

By joining forces with Make Birth Better, we’re aligning our mission to support women and birthing people, and empower clinicians with their evidence‑informed approach to preventing and reducing birth trauma. The collaboration will focus on raising awareness, amplifying best practices and enabling sustainable improvements across maternity pathway.

“Make Birth Better brings together lived experience and clinical expertise to reduce birth trauma — a mission that resonates deeply with us at Maternity by Kimal.”
Claire Nicholson, Sales and Marketing Director at Maternity by Kimal

What we’ll do together

Through this partnership, Maternity by Kimal will support and further develop Make Birth Better’s evidence‑informed training and development programmes, enhancing their reach, quality and impact across UK maternity services. Our shared priorities include:

Scaling proven training and development for maternity teams to prevent and reduce birth trauma.
Sharing best practice across our combined networks to improve care experiences and outcomes.
Listening to families and supporting clinicians, so insights from lived experience and clinical expertise inform change.
Showcasing innovation helping maternity services deliver safer, more compassionate, trauma‑informed care.

Voices from the partnership

“Make Birth Better brings together lived experience and clinical expertise to reduce birth trauma — a mission that resonates deeply with us at Maternity by Kimal.

“This partnership is about action: listening to families, supporting clinicians and scaling what works. Through our combined networks and capabilities, we aim to shine a light on best practices and help drive the systemic improvements that maternity services are striving for.”
Claire Nicholson, Sales and Marketing Director at Maternity by Kimal

“Make Birth Better is absolutely delighted to be partnering with Maternity by Kimal. Not only does the organisation hold the same ethics and values as us, but they are unwavering in their support of our work — to reduce birth trauma for all women and birthing people and their families, and provide healthcare professionals with the training to provide trauma-informed care. Their innovative products to reduce birth trauma inspire us, and we are so proud to be in partnership with them, working together to improve maternity care.”
Laura‑Rose Thorogood, CEO at Make Birth Better

Find out more

Explore Maternity by Kimal’s perinatal solutions: https://maternity.kimal.com/products/
Discover Make Birth Better’s training and resources: https://www.makebirthbetter.org/

If you’d like to learn more about Maternity by Kimal or discuss our products, please get in touch via maternity@kimal.com or https://maternity.kimal.com/get-in-touch/

News Published • 2 Jun 2025

DHSC announces over £100 million in funding to improve NHS maternity units

Today, we welcome the news that the Department of Health and Social Care will invest over £100 million in funding to improve NHS maternity units.

Over a decade of underinvestment has impacted almost every aspect of NHS maternity care, from recruitment and training to safe staffing levels, to having fit-for-purpose estates and equipment. Many maternity units are not fit for purpose, with facilities that are too small, poorly maintained and unprepared for growing demand and climate pressures.

The Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology has long called for investment to modernise NHS estates and digital infrastructure. They comment that “This funding is an important step towards ensuring maternity teams can deliver safe, high-quality care in environments that support them and the women and families they serve.”

We see this news as being extremely welcome and view the £100 million set aside for upgrading NHS maternity units as a positive step toward enhancing maternity care for every mother.

You can read the full article on the DHSC Website here