After a field delivery with the placenta delivered and the mother is hemorrhaging from the vagina, what is the immediate action you should take?

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Multiple Choice

After a field delivery with the placenta delivered and the mother is hemorrhaging from the vagina, what is the immediate action you should take?

The immediate action is external uterine massage (fundal massage). After the placenta is delivered, heavy vaginal bleeding is most often caused by uterine atony—when the uterus fails to contract adequately. Massaging the fundus from the outside stimulates the uterine muscles to contract and helps compress the blood vessels that are bleeding, which is the fastest, most direct way to control the hemorrhage in the field. This quick action addresses the core issue right away and can buy time for further care, such as establishing IV access and administering medications like oxytocin if protocol allows. Other steps, like vaginal packing or calling for advanced life support, are important but come after initiating the immediate massage to restore uterine tone.

The immediate action is external uterine massage (fundal massage). After the placenta is delivered, heavy vaginal bleeding is most often caused by uterine atony—when the uterus fails to contract adequately. Massaging the fundus from the outside stimulates the uterine muscles to contract and helps compress the blood vessels that are bleeding, which is the fastest, most direct way to control the hemorrhage in the field. This quick action addresses the core issue right away and can buy time for further care, such as establishing IV access and administering medications like oxytocin if protocol allows. Other steps, like vaginal packing or calling for advanced life support, are important but come after initiating the immediate massage to restore uterine tone.

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