Best timing, route, and dose of tranexamic acid before cord clamp to prevent heavy bleeding after childbirth

OPTIMUM OB-TXA: Optimal TIMing, route and dose of tranexamic acid prior to UMbilical cord clamp for postpartum hemorrhage prevention

NIH-funded research Inova Health Care Services · NIH-11145713

This project tests different ways of giving tranexamic acid to help prevent heavy bleeding in people during and after childbirth.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionInova Health Care Services NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Fairfax, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-11145713 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

You would be placed into groups based on delivery type (vaginal, cesarean, or morbid obesity) and receive tranexamic acid just before the umbilical cord is clamped by one of three methods: IV over 2 minutes, IV over 10 minutes, or intramuscular injection. Researchers will measure drug levels in umbilical cord blood and breast milk and record bleeding and clinical outcomes at delivery, 2 weeks, and 6 weeks after birth. The team will also test maternal blood for clotting and fibrinolysis markers to see how the drug changes clotting behavior. The aim is to identify the safest and most effective timing, route, and dose that protects the birthing person while minimizing newborn exposure.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal participants are pregnant people planning a vaginal or cesarean delivery, including those with morbid obesity, who will deliver at the study hospital and meet safety criteria.

Not a fit: People who are not pregnant or not delivering at the study site, or who have contraindications to tranexamic acid such as active thromboembolic disease or known allergy, are unlikely to benefit from participation.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could reduce the risk of heavy postpartum bleeding and give clear, safer guidance on how to use tranexamic acid around the time of birth.

How similar studies have performed: Large trials have shown tranexamic acid reduces death when given for established postpartum hemorrhage, and smaller studies hint at benefit from prophylactic use, but the optimal timing, route, and dose before cord clamp are still unclear.

Where this research is happening

Fairfax, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.