She's bleeding again

Obstetric haemorrhage is frightening, at least for the obstetrician. The woman's partner, however, views it calmly through his video camera. He knows there is always a lot of blood. When the norm is exceeded it is the professionals who sweat.

Life threatening haemorrhage occurs after one in a thousand births, so each NHS obstetrician should see a case every year or two. Not so. The play of chance means that in each hospital one consultant sees …