Exam 3 Blueprint Flashcards
Postpartum Hemorrhage.
- Its severe bleeding after giving birth
- Its the 1000mL or cumulative blood loss
- Bleeding with hypovolemia within 24 hrs of birth
- Its the leading cause of maternal death worldwide
- Pts with Hemophilia are at risk of PPH
Hemorrhagic (hypovolemic)
shock
- Its a an emergency in which the perfusion of body organs can become severely compromised & death can occur.
🔸 Its caused by Excess blood/fluid loss
Nursing Interventions of Hemorrhagic (hypovolemic)
shock
➤ Continuous assessment every 2 hrs
➤ Assess the vital signs (SPO2, BP, Temp, HR, RR)
➤ Check for Abnormal labs (HCT, RBC, HGB)
➤ Check the urine output for signs of oliguria
➤ Identify the cause of the Hemorrhage & treat it
Postpartum (puerperal)
infections
- Any infection of the genital tract that occurs within the 28 days of:-
* Miscarriage
* Abortion
* Birth - Fever of 38 degrees (100.4 F) or more on two successive days of the 1st 10days (not including the 1st 24hrs after birth)
Examples of Postpartum Infections
- UTI
- Mastitis (Breast duct clogging)
- Respiratory tract infection
- Endometriosis
Risk Factors of Postpartum Infection
- Anemia
- Diabetes
- Malnutrition
- Drug abuse
- Immunosuppression
- Frequent vaginal exam
- Catheterization during labor & delivery
Nursing Interventions for Postpartum Infection
➤ Antibiotic (Oral & IV)
➤ Hydration
➤ Wound care (clean & dry)
➤ Wipe front to back
➤ Encourage sitz bath
➤ Assess vital signs
➤ Give pain meds
➤ Encourage voiding & pad changing every 2 hrs
➤ Perineal cleaning with warm water
➤ Encourage pt to drink Cranberry juice for UTI management.
Signs & symptoms for Endometritis
- Fever >2days
- Tachycardia
- Uterine pain & tenderness
- Foul smell
- Elevated WBC
Which Postpartum infection is most common after birth/miscarriage?
Endometritis
Signs & symptoms for Wound infection
- Redness
- Smell
- Warmth upon touch
- Wound separation
Signs & symptoms for UTI
- Flank pain
- Frequent painful urination
- Burning sensation while urinating
- Cloudy foul urine
Postpartum Psychotic Disorders
- Its the most serious disorder
- Happens 2-4 days after birth
- Manifesting through :-
* Crying
* Mood swings
* Sleep disturbance - It causes :-
* Hallucination
* Thoughts of harming themselves/baby
🔸 Baby Blues lasts more than 1 wk
Nursing interventions of Postpartum Depression
➤ Ask them how they feel
➤ Share information & knowledge of what they are to expect
➤ Encourage regular exercises, meditation & relaxation
➤ Encourage them to share their feelings with people they trust or support groups
➤ Treat with Mood Stabilizers, Benzodiazepines, Lithium (safe for breastfeeding)
Postpartum fundal height (involution)
- The Fundus descends 1-2 cm every 24 hours.
🔸 Immediately after birth - 2 cm above the umbilicus
🔸 12 hrs - 1 cm above the umbilicus
🔸 1 hr (after birth) - 12 hrs - Midline the umbilicus
🔸 24 hrs (after birth) - 1cm below the umbilicus
🔸 2 days (after birth) - 2cm below the umbilicus
🔸 Full bladder - 1 to 2 cm above the umbilicus
🔸 2 wks after birth, the fundus should nolonger be palpable
What is Lochia?
Lochia - is the postbirth uterine discharge
Lochia changes
🔸 Lochia Rubra
- Its Normal
- Its bright red in color
- It lasts 1-3/3-4 days after birth
- Blood & decidual & trophoblastic debris
🔸 Lochia Serosa
- its pink/brown in color
- it lasts 22-27/4-10 days after birth
- Old blood, serum, leukocytes & debris
🔸 Lochia Alba
- Its white/yellow in color
- It lasts 2-6 wks after birth
- Leukocytes, decidua, epithelial cells, mucus, serum & bacteria
Postpartum fluid loss physiology
🔸 Profuse diaphoresis
- Its Normal
- Occurs in the first 12 hrs - 3 nights
- Its the body returning to base
🔸 Excessive bleeding
- Its due to displacement of the uterus if the bladder is full
🔸Uterine Atony
- If someone is bleeding out 3 hours post-partum we would say patient had uterine atony
Nursing interventions for Postpartum Hemorrhage
➤ Massage the fundus (maintins the uterine tone)
➤ Empty the bladder (prevent bladder distension)
➤ Administer Pitocin (encourages uterine contraction)
Postpartum Hemorrhage Vital signs & labs
🔸Vital signs
* BP (Hypotension)
* SPO2 (Low O2 saturation)
* Temperature ( Hypothermia/low temp)
* HR (tachycardia)
* RR (tachypnea)
🔸Labs
* RBC (low)
* Hct (low)
* Hgb (low)
4th trimester
- Its the period after childbirth during which the mother’s reproductive organs return to their original non-pregnant condition.
- It lasts between 3-6 wks after birth
Postpartum headaches
🔸 Facts
* They are common in the first week postpartum
* Assess the BP
🔸 Causes
* Postpartum Preeclampsia
* HTN
* Spinal headaches
🔸 Nursing interventions
* Encourage the pt to lay flat to relieve pain
* A Blood patch may be needed
Kegel exercises
- They are pelvic exercises that encourage healing on the pelvic muscles
➤ Pretend like your peeing and stop urine stream…. Squeeze
Nursing care for Episiotomy/Laceration pts
🔸Apply ice packs in the first 24 hours after birth that reducing pain and
promoting healing and comfort.
🔸Use sitz baths 3-4 times a day for a maximum of 20 minutes each time.
🔸Change the pads every 2 to 4 hours.
🔸 Keep the area around the stitches clean and dry by washing the area from front to back, and the dry with a clean towel after urinate or have a bowel movement.
🔸 Drink lots of water and eat foods with plenty of fiber this will prevent
constipation.
🔸 Explain that these sutures usually dissolve within 10 days
🔸 Inspect the perineum for redness, sloughing of sutures, pus formation,
drainage at the suture, and if the pain gets worse.
Engorgement
- Its the overfilling of breasts with milk
- Often occurring in the early days postpartum
- It results in :-
* Swollen
* Hard
* Painful breasts - It may lead to :-
* Premature cessation of breastfeeding
* Decreased milk production
* Cracked nipples
* Mastitis - The discomfort decreases within 24 -36 hrs
🔸 Nursing Interventions
- Apply cold cabbage leaves on the breasts
- Wearing a well-fitting bra
➤ Do not use cabbage leaves on a lactating mother, but only when the mother intends to stop breastfeeding
Cultural care/therapeutic communication
- Sometimes in birth there are different cultures.
- The nurse should try to accommodate what is being asked of you even if you don’t believe in it.
- Use therapeutic communication with them.
What are the causes of Postpartum Hemorrhage?
➤ Uterine tone/boggy uterus (leading cause)
➤ Retained placenta fragments
➤ Hematomas (collection/pooling of blood under the skin)
➤ Infection
➤ Coagulation disorder
➤ Subinvolution of the uterus
➤ Lacerations of the genital tract that were not repaired following the birth
Quantitative Blood Loss (QBL) vs Estimated Blood Loss (EBL)
EBL or QBL of 1500 mL…what is our expected finding as far as vital signs for mom?
- Hypotension (she’s hemorrhaging).
- Blood loss of 1000mL is a hemorrhage .