An interventional study of calcium gluconate and Normal saline placebo in Postpartum Hemorrhage, sponsored by Rambam Health Care Campus. Recruiting at 1 site in Israel. Open to male participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-07-20.
Sponsored by Rambam Health Care Campus · Not applicable, Interventional, and Prevention
Postpartum hemorrhage is one of the leading causes of maternal morbidity following childbirth. Even when excessive bleeding is not clinically recognized, some women experience a significant decrease in hemoglobin levels after delivery, which may result in anemia, fatigue, delayed recovery, and the need for additional medical treatment.
Calcium plays an important role in uterine muscle contraction and blood clotting. Previous studies have suggested that calcium administration may help reduce blood loss after childbirth. However, there is limited evidence regarding its effectiveness during vaginal delivery.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether administration of intravenous calcium gluconate immediately after umbilical cord clamping can reduce postpartum blood loss following vaginal delivery.
Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either calcium gluconate or a placebo solution immediately after umbilical cord clamping during vaginal delivery. Neither the participants nor their healthcare providers will know which treatment was administered. Blood tests routinely obtained during hospitalization after delivery will be used to assess changes in hemoglobin levels and other outcomes related to postpartum bleeding.
The results of this study may help determine whether calcium gluconate is a safe and effective intervention for reducing postpartum blood loss after vaginal delivery.
Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) remains a major cause of maternal morbidity worldwide. In addition to clinically recognized PPH, a substantial proportion of women experience significant postpartum hemoglobin decline without overt signs of excessive bleeding. Such blood loss may contribute to postpartum anemia, fatigue, delayed recovery, and increased healthcare utilization.
Calcium plays a critical role in both uterine muscle contraction and the coagulation cascade. Transient reductions in serum calcium concentrations have been observed during labor and immediately after delivery. It has been hypothesized that calcium supplementation during the third stage of labor may enhance uterine contractility and reduce postpartum blood loss.
The objective of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial is to evaluate whether intravenous calcium gluconate administered immediately after umbilical cord clamping reduces postpartum blood loss following vaginal delivery.
Eligible participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either 10 mL of 10% calcium gluconate diluted in 100 mL of normal saline or 110 mL of normal saline placebo administered intravenously immediately after umbilical cord clamping. Participants, healthcare providers, and outcome assessors will remain blinded to treatment allocation.
The co-primary outcomes are: (1) the proportion of participants experiencing a hemoglobin decrease of at least 2 g/dL from the pre-delivery value to the lowest postpartum hemoglobin value recorded during hospitalization, and (2) the mean change in hemoglobin level from the pre-delivery value to the lowest postpartum hemoglobin value recorded during hospitalization.
Secondary outcomes include clinically diagnosed postpartum hemorrhage, need for additional uterotonic medications, blood transfusion, intravenous iron administration, length of hospital stay, and composite maternal morbidity outcomes.
The findings of this study may provide evidence regarding the effectiveness and safety of calcium gluconate as a simple and inexpensive intervention for reducing postpartum blood loss after vaginal delivery.
Exclusion Criteria:
Participants will receive 10 mL of 10% calcium gluconate solution (0.94 g calcium gluconate) diluted in 100 mL normal saline administered intravenously immediately following umbilical cord clamping during the third stage of labor.
Drug: calcium gluconate
Participants will receive 110 mL of 0.9% normal saline administered intravenously immediately following umbilical cord clamping during the third stage of labor.
Drug: Normal saline placebo
10 mL of 10% calcium gluconate solution (0.94 g calcium gluconate) diluted in 100 mL of normal saline and administered intravenously immediately following umbilical cord clamping during the third stage of labor.
110 mL of 0.9% normal saline administered intravenously immediately following umbilical cord clamping during the third stage of labor
Proportion of Participants With a Hemoglobin Decrease of ≥2 g/dL
Proportion of participants with a decrease of at least 2 g/dL in hemoglobin concentration from the pre-delivery value to the lowest postpartum hemoglobin value recorded during hospitalization. Hemoglobin levels will be routinely measured 24-48 hours after vaginal delivery; if additional hemoglobin measurements are obtained later during hospitalization, the lowest recorded value will be used for analysis.
Time frame: From pre-delivery baseline to 24-48 hours postpartum. If additional Hb measurements are obtained later during hospitalization and demonstrate a further decline, the lowest hemoglobin value recorded during the hospitalization will be used for analysis.
Mean Change in Hemoglobin Level
Proportion of participants with a decrease of at least 2 g/dL in hemoglobin concentration from the pre-delivery value to the lowest postpartum hemoglobin value recorded during hospitalization. Hemoglobin levels will be routinely measured 24-48 hours after vaginal delivery; if additional hemoglobin measurements are obtained later during hospitalization, the lowest recorded value will be used for analysis.
Time frame: From pre-delivery baseline to 24-48 hours postpartum. If additional Hb measurements are obtained later during hospitalization and demonstrate a further decline, the lowest hemoglobin value recorded during the hospitalization will be used for analysis.
Clinically Diagnosed Postpartum Hemorrhage
Proportion of participants with clinically diagnosed postpartum hemorrhage following vaginal delivery
Time frame: From delivery until hospital discharge, assessed up to 4 days postpartum
Need for Additional Treatment for Postpartum Hemorrhage
Proportion of participants requiring additional medical or procedural treatment for management of PPH
Time frame: From delivery through 24 hours postpartum
Receipt of Blood Products
Proportion of participants receiving blood products during postpartum hospitalization
Time frame: Proportion of participants receiving blood products during the first 3 days postpartum.
Intravenous Iron Administration
Proportion of participants treated with intravenous iron during postpartum hospitalization
Time frame: From delivery through postpartum Day 3.
Length of Hospital Stay
Duration of postpartum hospitalization after vaginal delivery.
Time frame: From delivery to hospital discharge. Most participants are discharged within 36-48 hours postpartum; however, follow-up continues until hospital discharge for participants with prolonged hospitalization due to maternal complications.
Composite Adverse Maternal Outcome
Proportion of participants experiencing at least one of the following adverse maternal outcomes: intensive care unit admission, surgical treatment for uncontrolled postpartum hemorrhage, massive blood transfusion, disseminated intravascular coagulation, or maternal death.
Time frame: From delivery to hospital discharge. Most participants are discharged within 36-48 hours; participants with prolonged hospitalization will be followed until discharge (up to 30 days postpartum)
Plan to share: Undecided — The investigators have not yet determined whether de-identified individual participant data will be shared. Any future data sharing will be considered in accordance with institutional policies, ethical approvals, and participant privacy protections.
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
Eligibility is decided by the study team. Share this record with your doctor or contact the team directly.
Contact study teamGet an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.
Rambam Health Care Campus