What maneuver is used to control postpartum hemorrhage?

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Controlling postpartum hemorrhage hinges on restoring the uterus’s ability to contract. The most immediate hands‑on method is fundal massage, a manual technique that directly stimulates the uterus to contract. By placing one hand at the lower part of the uterus and the other to support the abdominal wall, you massage the fundus in steady circular movements. This promotes contraction, compresses the blood vessels at the placental site, and helps the bleeding slow or stop. You continue until the uterus feels firm and remains midline, reassessing frequently. If bleeding persists after the uterus is Firm, additional steps such as medications to enhance contractions or further interventions are used. While medications like oxytocin are essential in promoting contraction, they are not a manual maneuver, and ice packs do not address the bleeding. The reason fundal massage is the best initial maneuver is that it directly counteracts uterine atony—the common cause of postpartum hemorrhage—by triggering a rapid, mechanical contraction of the uterus.