THE number of women in Scotland suffering life-threatening complications while giving birth has doubled, according to figures reported by doctors.

The Herald can reveal Scottish doctors have said the number of major haemorrhages was 176 in 2003, but by 2010, the latest year for which figures are available, it had risen to 328.

It equates to almost one woman a day who was going into labour suffering the complications, according to the investigation into the care of mothers by the Scottish Confidential Audit of Severe Maternal Morbidity (SCASMM).

Maureen Treadwell, spokeswoman for the Birth Trauma Association, said: "Women are experiencing more problems in childbirth full stop. That is because they are having babies at a later age and they are having larger babies."

She said women should be informed about the risk of obstetric haemorrhages, when mothers can bleed extremely heavily, before they give birth.

Ms Treadwell, whose charity was not involved in the research, added: "They are quite common and if women knew that from the start you would certainly reduce the psychological trauma. The first thing the woman and her partner think when it happens is they are going to die."

The study into the care of mothers who fall seriously ill around the time of labour shows more than 300 suffered a massive haemorrhage in one year.

Other complications included anaphylactic shock and dangerous seizures.

While the majority of patients were well cared for, the research found the care provided in 20% of major haemorrhages was less than ideal.

Four of the women were so badly managed it put their lives in greater danger, according to the doctors involved in their care.

Dr Chris Lennox, clinical adviser to SCASMM, said: "Obviously these experiences are no fun for the women or the staff either. The better you manage these women the less traumatised they will be by the experience.

"All the guidelines are based on optimal care to minimise morbidity and maximise the speed of recovery. If staff stick to the guidelines, which are very thorough, then it should make the experience less traumatic when it happens."

Every year Scottish doctors are asked to submit details of births where the women became seriously unwell to SCASMM for analysis.

The number of major haemorrhages reported has shot up from 176 in 2003 to 328 for the latest audit, which covers 2010. The total number of cases where a mother's life has been in danger has risen from 270 to 385. This is equivalent to one in every 154 births.

The increases may be a result of more doctors submitting information to the audit, rather than more women becoming ill.

The audit identified inadequate forward planning for the care of women who were already known to be at risk of haemorrhaging, including a failure to perform extra scans.

The report was published by Healthcare Improvement Scotland, which oversees SCASMM. It also noted a "scattergun approach" when it came to giving women drugs to try to control bleeding after delivery, adding: "There was often no logic to the order in which drugs were administered."

The direct involvement of consultants in the care of women haemorrhaging and with very high blood pressure also "fell short of the levels recommended by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists".

Gillian Smith, director of the Royal College of Midwives Scotland, said while the number of women suffering major bleeds was still too high their care had improved significantly.

She added: "When events like this happen teamwork is fundamental.

"You have got to know who is doing what. You have got to have a plan and the appropriate people there such as anaesthetists and obstetricians at the right level and seniority and experienced midwives.

"I think the big worry at the moment is staffing levels. Women should have one-to-one care in labour because patients take you by surprise."

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "While maternal death remains very rare, we are constantly striving to improve care for pregnant women and their babies.

"This report highlights the fact the level of optimal care for women with major obstetric haemorrhage and the involvement of consultants in their care are at their highest since this audit began. The significant fall in cases of postpartum hysterectomy and the lowest annual number of cases of eclampsia are also to be welcomed."

A new patient safety initiative focusing on maternity wards is currently being rolled out across Scotland.