The Postpartum Haemorrhage (PPH) Butterfly Work Package 3

Overview

The Postpartum Haemorrhage (PPH) Butterfly is a simple, low-cost device which has been developed as a treatment method for PPH. It will be used to stop the bleeding through compression of the uterus of women having a PPH. It will be markedly easier to undertake than traditional bimanual compression, whilst also being significantly more acceptable to women themselves. Use of the PPH Butterfly will provide an alternative management option for PPH and in some cases should avoid the need for women to have to go to theatre for treatment. This research will allow the investigators to determine if they have the optimum size and shape of the device, that it will operate as intended when compressing the uterus, and to gauge its acceptability to participants and users. In phase I the investigators will recruit "healthy volunteers" i.e. women who have delivered their baby vaginally following Induction of labour (IOL) however these women will not be experiencing a PPH. The device is to be assessed purely on size, usability and acceptability not for diagnosis or as a treatment method. Following the delivery participants will be invited to have the PPH Butterfly inserted vaginally for an average of 2 minutes. It is through this that the investigators will assess the suitability of the device in its current design, when it is in practice. The clinician who operates the device will complete a Likert scale questionnaire along with some open questions following each administration. Participants will also answer a short questionnaire. .

The study will involve 5-10 healthy women who deliver their baby vaginally following Induction of Labour (IOL). The women will be given a short leaflet regarding the study. During their time on the Induction of Labour (IOL) Suite, women will be seen by a member of the research team, the research will be discussed with them and they will receive a Participant Information Sheet if they desire. The woman will also be shown a short video regarding the Postpartum Haemorrhage (PPH)Butterfly which is specifically for members of the public. After a discussion of the research, women will be asked to indicate in writing whether they may consider participation, whether they do not want to participate, or whether they are undecided but are happy to be asked again. Only those women who are considering participation, or who are happy to be asked again will be approached post-delivery. All of the women can be approached up to 72 hours post-delivery and asked if they wish to participate. If a woman has a vaginal delivery, a member of the research team will then attend the Delivery Suite, maternity theatre (the woman may have had an instrumental delivery in theatre) or the postnatal ward once informed by the midwife caring for her. They will clarify with the woman if she wishes to participate. Assuming the woman wishes to participate, informed, signed consent will be sought at this point and the device will be used, with a speculum examination taking place before and after use of the device. If the device is of an incorrect size, then the device size will be changed before repeating the process with 5-10 more women. In this way the final recruitment number may be more than 10 in total.