Part of our goal as a hub is to collect, categorize and highlight innovation for maternal and neonatal health. We will feature high-tech for a low price or low-tech for a very lower price. We will cover extremely creative or just highly practical ideas. And we categorize innovations in the pipeline or still in research and development versus those that are on the market. Soon Maternova will be interactive, allowing comments from the field on priority needs and reviews on particular products.  This simple plastic bag for collection of blood in an obstetric hemorrhage is an example of an innovation that is incredibly simple and yet of tremendous significance for maternal health. In areas with little health care infrastructure, measurement of blood loss is difficult. And yet determining the amount of blood lost is critical to the decision of whether to refer a mother to a higher level health facility. Tied around the mother's waist right after delivery, the calibrated bags capture blood and at the 500 mL identify when the dangerous point has been reached. The device was designed by Dr. Aloke from FOGSI in India. The innovation and photo are courtesy of Solution Exchange India. We spent almost a year trying to find the obstetric drape for sale and now offer [our own version here ] (http://maternova.net/calibrated-obstetric-drape).

Please submit comments on this blood collection device, others like it, its use in the field and best practices.