Antepartum haemorrhage

Antepartum haemorrhage (APH) is defined as bleeding from or into the genital tract occurring between 24+0 weeks' gestation until birth and seen in 3-5% of pregnancies. Moreover, up to 20% of preterm deliveries are associated with APH. In the UK, the 2013-1015 report of the UK Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths showed that whilst maternal mortality remained stable, there was a non-significant rise in deaths due to haemorrhage. APH can be caused by a range of pathologies and due its high prevalence and strong association with maternal mortality, maternal and perinatal morbidity, a thorough understanding of APH is essential for the practising obstetrician. The objective of this review is to define the most common causes of APH (placenta praevia, placental abruption and local causes), together with its management.