The risk of women in England suffering severe bleeding after giving birth has climbed to its highest level in five years, raising renewed alarm about the safety of NHS maternity services.
New figures show that the rate of postpartum haemorrhage has risen sharply, from 27 cases per 1,000 births in 2020 to 32 per 1,000 this year – an increase of 19%. The condition involves the loss of at least 1.5 litres of blood following childbirth and is a major cause of birth-related trauma.
Despite falling birth rates, last year recorded the highest number of severe bleeding incidents since national reporting began. NHS England data analysed by the Liberal Democrats shows 16,780 cases in the most recent year, up from 15,780 in 2023 and 15,230 in 2022.
While some bleeding after childbirth is common, excessive blood loss can be life-threatening. Postpartum haemorrhage remains the leading cause of maternal death worldwide and accounts for around 7% of maternal deaths in the UK.
Helen Morgan, the Liberal Democrats’ health spokesperson, described the figures as deeply alarming.
“The growing risk to mothers of suffering serious and potentially fatal bleeding following childbirth is terrifying,” she said.
“We know that severe blood loss contributes to nearly one in 10 maternal deaths [in the UK]. Every birth involves risk, but rising rates of these incidents will be a source of real fear for women and families across the country.
“It’s completely heartbreaking to see just how many families experience unacceptable injuries and trauma at a time that should be full of excitement and joy.”
The data adds to mounting evidence that maternity care standards across the NHS are deteriorating. Last week, Valerie Amos, chair of a government-commissioned review into maternity services, warned that unacceptable care was still being delivered, leading to “tragic consequences”.
Morgan said the latest figures could not be viewed in isolation.
“We already have a situation where the Care Quality Commission says that two-thirds of maternity units are not safe enough. Maternity deaths are up. The risk of women suffering a serious tear has risen.
“And now we have this shocking news that there is a growing risk of postpartum haemorrhage.”
Medical experts say the rise reflects increasingly complex pregnancies. Factors such as obesity, older maternal age and higher rates of conditions like high blood pressure are increasing the likelihood of complications during birth.
Professor Asma Khalil, consultant obstetrician and maternal-foetal specialist, and spokesperson for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said the trend was worrying but required careful interpretation.
“The reported increase in postpartum haemorrhage is concerning,” she said.
“But it must be understood in the context of births becoming more clinically complex. More women are entering pregnancy and birth with factors that can raise the risk of heavy bleeding, for example high blood pressure and a higher body weight, though most will not experience a haemorrhage.”
The Liberal Democrats have called on health secretary Wes Streeting to introduce a “maternity rescue plan” to ensure all maternity units meet standards judged to be good by the Care Quality Commission.
In a letter signed by 60 Lib Dem MPs, the party said the failure to implement recommendations from multiple previous maternity inquiries amounted to an insult to families harmed by poor care.
Lady Amos said last week it was “staggering” that many of the 750 recommendations made over the past decade had still not been acted upon.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care declined to comment directly on the new analysis but said: “As Baroness Amos set out this week, too many families have been let down by maternity and neonatal services, with devastating consequences.
“That’s why the secretary of state has ordered a rapid review of maternity services and will chair a new national maternity and neonatal taskforce to address deep-rooted issues.”
