Haemoglobin concentration following postpartum haemorrhage and the association between blood transfusion and breastfeeding: a retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the association between red blood cell transfusion and breastfeeding among women who have suffered a postpartum haemorrhage at birth taking into account post-birth haemoglobin concentrations. RESULTS: Among 15,451 maternities with postpartum haemorrhage in New South Wales public hospitals between 2007 and 2010, 1828 (12%) received a red cell transfusion. Among transfused women, 686 (38%) had haemoglobin concentration pre-transfusion < 70 g/L, 792 (43%) had 70–90 g/L, and 350 (19%) had > 90 g/L. Rates and adjusted relative risks (aRR) for breastfeeding at hospital discharge were as follows: for women with haemoglobin concentrations < 70 g/L following birth and received a transfusion, 78.6% were breastfeeding and the aRR of breastfeeding compared to untransfused women was 0.90 (99% confidence interval (CI) 0.86–0.95); for women with haemoglobin concentrations 70–90 g/L, 81.3% were breastfeeding, aRR 0.94 (99% CI 0.90–0.98); and for women with haemoglobin concentrations > 90 g/L, 80.9% were breastfeeding, aRR 0.94 (99% CI 0.88–1.00).