Exam two class six: postpartum Flashcards
postpartum period
- after birth; traditionally seen as lasting 6-8 weeks but we are beginning to view this period extending to 12 months after birth.
key points of postpartum period
-Family centered and modeled on the concept of health
-Cultural beliefs and practices affect the birthing person and family
-Nursing care includes assessments to detect deviations from normal, comfort measures to relieve discomfort or pain, and safety measures to prevent injury or infection
common nursing interventions in postpartum period
-Preventing excessive bleeding, bladder distention, and infection
-Providing non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic relief of discomfort associated with afterbirth pain (cramping) episiotomy, lacerations, or breastfeeding
-Instituting measures to promote or suppress lactation
4th stage of labor
- first 4 hours after birth
- Maternal organs start to undergo readjustments to the non-pregnant state
nurses role in 4th stage of labor
-Identify and manage and deviations from normal
-Promote and support parent-infant bonding
-Prevent hemorrhage
-get breast feeding started
Assessments during the 4th stage
- Q 15 min x 4; Q 30 min x 2, Q 1 hr (dependent on institution)
-Vital signs
-Fundus, lochia, perineum, bladder
Focused Postpartum Assessment
General assessment-V.S., pain assessment, etc. +
BUBBBLEE
Breasts
Uterus
Bladder
Bowels
Bleeding
Legs
Episiotomy/laceration/c-section incision
Emotions
Physiological Changes and Assessments: vital signs
-HR: may see mild bradycardia r/t baroreceptor stimulation immediately PP, then returns to prepregnant states by 24-48 hours
-BP: increase days 4-6 then normalizes by 2-6 weeks
-Respirations: normalize within 24 hours (was fast in pregnancy)
-Temperature: return to normal within hours PP
1. Could be transient mild elevation (< 100.4 F) in 1st 24 hours
2. Could be transient temperature rise on 3-4th day
why is there a transient mild elevation in temperature in the first 24 hours
- general inflammatory reaction
- dehydration
- epidural
why is there a transient temperature rise on the 3-4th day after birth
- breast engorgement (full breasts from milk coming in = inflammation
While auscultating the heart of a postpartum patient what might you hear related to the physiological changes in pregnancy and PP?
systolic murmur from more blood volume
Physiological Changes and Assessments- cardiovascular
- Blood volume decreases 1000-1500 ml
-Diuresis: sweating at night 1st week PP
-Blood loss - Cardiac output: increases 60-80% immediately PP due to relief of the inferior vena cava obstruction and contraction of the uterus followed by rapid decline to prelabor values within 1 hour
-Pre pregnancy states by ~ 2 weeks.
Physiological Changes and Assessments- respiratory
-Immediate decrease in pressure on the diaphragm and reduction in pulmonary blood volume
-Rate back to normal within 2-3 days
when can someone start using estrogen based birth control
- when estrogen levels go down (6-8 weeks) or when your not breastfeeding
-What complication are you assessing for when auscultating the lungs?
- pulmonary emboli from estrogen
- pulmonary edema
Review of Systems/Labs- Head to toe approach with ROS
-Depression, anxiety, fatigue
-Fevers, chills
-Dizziness, syncope with ambulation
-Nausea, vomiting
-Headache, visual changes, RUQ/epigastric pain (pre eclampsia)
-Chest pain, palpitations
-Difficulty breathing, SOB- should resolve quickly (PE sign)
-Dysuria
-Pain with bowel movement
-Difficulty with moving/ambulation
HELLP labs
- check if concerned for preeclampsia
- hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets
Review of Systems/Labs- potential
- Normally CBC, type and screen on admission
-Common to see WBC elevation 12,000-20,000 + in labor and postpartum- might mask infection
-Repeat CBC postpartum: H +H and WBC (normal to be high but assess other signs of infection) - HELLP labs
breast and nipple care: assessment and education for breast feeders
- alternate breasts
- no soap on nipples
- dont rip the baby off- use finger to delatch
- wear bra 24 hours a day without under wire
- assess for hard red lump on one side = mastitis
- are they soft or filling with milk (firmer) or very hard warm and engorged
when does mature milk come in
- 3-5 days after labor: before this its colostrum
what assessments and education can you provide for someone bottle feeding
- no nipple stimulation (not even warm water hitting the nipple)
- firm bra
- ice packs (or cabbage leaves) to reduce swelling when engorgement happens
latch score
-evaluates feeding effectiveness
-The higher the score the more effective the feeding
-By 12 hours of age the score should be >6
L=latch
A= audible swallowing
T=type of nipple
C=comfort (breast/nipple)
H= hold (positioning)
what do you determine the latch score off of
-Breasts- soft, non-tender, nipples are flat but intact
-LATCH Assessment
-Assistance required for positioning
-The baby was very sleepy and only held the nipple in his mouth, there were no audible swallows
uterus- involution
- Immediate postpartum: halfway between SP and U
- 1 hour PP: at U
- Next 6 weeks
-Cells atrophy and shrink
-Returns to non-pregnant location in pelvis by ~ 6 weeks
-Rate of descent: 1 cm per day until a pelvic organ at about 10 days
uterus after birth pains causes
- uterus contracting as its trying to get back down to normal position and site (oxytocin)
what causes more after birth pain/cramping
- breast feeding as it causes oxytocin to be produced
- the more babies you have
- bad menstrual cramps = bad cramps after birth
uterus after birth pain comfort measures
- NSAIDS (motrin and Ibuprofen) consistently
- alternate between Motrin and Tylenol
- lay on belly with pillow under uterus and this helps keep it contracted
- heating pads
fundus
- Must remain firm to control bleeding from the placental site
- Support lower uterine segment
- Assessment
1. Firm or boggy
2. Position in relation to umbilicus
3. Deviated to right or left of umbilicus - Documentation
causes of boggy uterus
- pieces of placental tissue
- clot
- lots of babies
- infection in uterus
- full bladder- can elevate uterus and cause it to not be contracted
what is a boggy uterus
- feels like wet sponge that compresses easily
what does a firm contracted uterus feel like
- grapefruit
how to document a fundal assessment example
- FF@U= fundus firm at umbilicus
- FF@U+1= fundus firm one finger above umbilicus
how to assess the uterus/fundus
- one hand above the symphysis and one hand above the umbilicus and cup around it
bladder
- Kidney function-returns to normal by 1 month
- Ureters and renal pelvices-hypotonia/dilation takes 2-8 weeks to normalize
- Transient increase in BUN and proteinuria-caused by breakdown of uterine tissue and slowing of GFR
- Decreased sensation to void– due to birth, epidural
-Urinary retention= increases risk of UTI and pyleonephritis
-Full bladder displaces uterus: Increased Bleeding
-Void within 6 hours after birth
-Assess for BS: Which patients is this especially important for?
- c SECTION PATIENTS
- No BS = illieus
bowels
-Decreased intestinal tone and motility- normal by 2nd week
-First BM: may not happen for first 3-5 days
-Hemorrhoids from pushing : Care
-Diet and Nutrition
diet and nutrition
- increased fiber and fluids
- if breast feeding: additional 500 calories per day
- can drink occasionally just feed the baby first then wait a few hours after to feed again
-Additional considerations with 3rd/4th degree lacerations
- this is a tear through the anal sphincter and mucosa so..
- make sure good peri care and not straining
- give stool softener
- dermaplast on perineum
hemorrhoids care
- hemorroid cream
- witch hazsel pad- tucks pad (can put in freezer)
- dermaplast (spray on perimeum)
bleeding/ lochia
- Consists of sloughed off necrotic tissue and blood
- Assessment includes
-Color
-Amount
-Clots
-Gushing
-Odor - Stages
-Rubra
-Serosa
-Alba
rubra
- first 3-4 days PP
- darker and larger
serosa
- pinkish/ brown
- less amount
- until 10 days PP
alba
- white discharge
- up until 6-8 weeks PP
Lochia amounts- documentation of amounts
-Scant
-Small
-Moderate
-Heavy
lochia amounts- too much/too big
> 1 pad saturated per hour
Clot/s > Egg/golf ball
- or if a lot of small clots that add up to the egg/golf ball size
scant amount of lochia
blood only on tissue when wiped or less than 1 inch stain on peri-pad within 1 hour
light amount lochia
- less than 4 inch stain on peri pad within one hour
moderate Lochia amoutn
- less than 6 inches stain on peri pad within one hour
heavy amount of lochia
0 saturated peri pad within 1 hour
Lochia
- from uterus
-Slow flow from vaginal opening
-More with uterine contraction, fundal massage, or breastfeeding
-Pooled lochia will be darker in color and coagulated
non-lochial
- not from uterus but could be from a tear that wasnt identified
-Contracted/firm uterus
-Constant flow
-Especially heavy, bright red
-What might cause this?
Extremities/legs- edema
- Initial increase from 3rd spacing and IV fluids that were given
- Education on relief measures for edema
relief measures for edema
- drink fluids
- elevate legs
- compression stockings
- get up and walk around
- will resolve within one week
Extremities/ legs- homans signs
- pain in calf with dorsiflexion of the foot
-What complication is this looking for: DVT
-look for Pain, streaks, heat, masses?
Extremities/legs: DTRs (deep tendon reflexes) and Clonus
- checking for hyperrefelxia and this is a sign of pre eclampsia
Vagina & Perineum changes
- Estrogen levels decrease
-Decreased lubrication/libido - Lacerations/Episiotomy
-Usually heals and suture dissolves by 6 weeks: May take longer for 3rd/4th degrees
-Pelvic rest: at least for 24 hours ideally 6 weeks
Vagina & Perineum- Evaluation of lacerations/Episiotomy
- have patient roll to side with one leg up to assess
-Redness
-Edema
-Ecchymosis
-Discharge or Drainage
-Approximation
when can you have intercourse again
- when ready emotionally
- when no bright red bleeding
- when can stick a couple fingers up there with no pain
Perineal Care- general hygiene
-Peri bottle filled with warm water and spray from front to back after each urination
-Wiping/patting dry from front to back
- change pad after every void
peri care- comfort measures
-Ice pack for 24 hours
-Tucks pad
-Dermoplast spray
-Witch hazel pads
-Sitz bath 2-3 times daily
C-section Incision
- Types of skin closure: staples will be removed before you go home and steri strips will be applied
- Dressing for first 24 hours (removed when you take first shower): Assess if it is clean and dry
- Wound:
-Redness
-Ecchymosis
-Edema
-Discharge
-Approximation
- fundal assessment is the same
Emotions/Bonding: -Signs of positive bonding/attachment
- cares for baby
- ask questions about baby
- hold the baby in the “en face” position, touches newborn
- talks, coos, signs to the baby
- names the baby
Emotions/Bonding: how can we foster this
- early contact, skin to skin
- rooming in
- assit/encourage parents to perform care
- allow partner/family to stay
- education
- support with feeding
- identify risk factors
the blues
Most common form of postpartum mood change
- may be dramatic
the blues onset
First few days, resolves by 2-3 weeks
the blues causes
Fatigue
Uncertainty
Frustration
Hormonal fluctuations
Unrealistic expectations
Lack of sleep and support
the blues nursing tx
Rest, support, reassurance
how to asses for postpartum depression
- Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) = Self-administered 10 item tool
Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)
-Developed in 1987 to be used by primary care providers to identify pregnant/PP patients at risk for post natal depression
-Early identification of depression is crucial to the well-being of patient and baby
Self-administered 10 item tool for EPDS
- Asked to select the response that best matches how they have felt in the last 7 days
-Total points possible is 30 which represents the most severe symptoms - Administered
-Prenatally: at initial visit, 28 weeks
-Postpartum: prior to d/c from hospital, at 2 and 6-week postpartum visits, prn
Positive EPDS screening
- Different scoring thresholds based on population being screened
- Prenatal
-First trimester > 11
-Second/third trimesters > 10 - Postpartum- >/= 13 considered positive screen
-Answers yes to question #10—”The thought of harming myself has occurred to me…”
-Clinical judgement
-Other factors that may influence results:
*Understanding of the language
*Fear of consequences if depression is identified (stigma, etc)
*Different emotional reserves
Vaccinations
Rubella non-immune: give MMR
Varicella vaccine if non immune
Rh negative mom with Rh positive fetus: Rhogam 300 mcg within 72 hours
Tdap if they didn’t get it in the pregnancy
COVID
discharge teaching
- Planning and education for discharge should begin at first interaction after birth and continue throughout the hospitalization
- All patients should be educated on:
-Comfort measures
-Rest
-Nutrition
-Hygiene
-Baby Care
-PP expectations
-Pelvic rest - Warning signs for postpartum complications:
warning signs of postpartum complications
PE
Cardiac disease
HTN
Hemorrhage
DVT
Infection
Postpartum depression
Be cognizant of cultural beliefs
uterus after birth pains causes
-Causes: usterus contracting.
education when DC: call 911 if
- pain in chest
- obstructed breathing or shortness of breath
- seizures
- thoughts of hurting yourself or someone else
education when DC: call your healthcare provider if you have `
- bleeding, soaking through one pad/hour, or blood clots the size of an egg or bigger
- incision that is not healing
- red or swollen leg that is painful or warm
- temperature of 100.4 or higher
- headache that doesnt get better even after taking medicine or bad headache with vision chnages
leading cause of perinatal M&M
- infection
- hemorrhage
- HTN
- Emboli
timing of postpartum hemorrhage
- early or primary: first 24 hours after birth
- late or secondary: > 24 hours after birth up to 6 weeks PP
dx for pph
- 1000 ml or more of blood loss
Normal amount of blood loss with vaginal/cesarean births
- < 1000 ml
what are the 4 T’s of PPH
- Tone
- Tissue
- Trauma
- Thromboembolic disorders
tone
- anything that causes the uterus to grow alot
- too full, too fast, too long, too much pitocin
- meds that stop CTX’s: magnesium sulfate which is a muscle relaxant
- grand multip
- infection
- Atony= #1 cause
tissue
- retained placental tissue pieces
- these cause the uterus to not be able to contract down as well
trauma
- episiotomy, lacerations, sulcus, cervical, uterine rupture, hematomas, uterine inversion
what is a sulcus
- tear along the floor of the vagina
treatment of hemorrhage- Atony
- anticipate
- fundual massage, bimanual compression, 2nd iv line, empty bladder
- medications to contract the uterus
- initiate breastfeeding when the mother and baby are safe
- pain meds
who do you anticipate atony in
- someone who had: long labor, large baby, history of PPH)
when do to the fundal massage
- once the placenta is out
- notice if it is firm with minimal bleeding or boggy (soft) with bleeding
medications for PPH caused by atony
- pitocin
- cytotec
- methergie
- hemabate
- TXA
pitocin in treating hemorrhage
- 10 units IM in leg OR 10-40 units in 500 ml NS wide open
- give after birth of baby or placenta
cytotec in treating hemorrhage
- 800-1000 mcg SL or rectally
- helps increase uterine tone
- can cause: shivering, fever, diarrhea
methergine for treating hemorrhage
- 0.2 mg IM Q 2-4 hours
- second line
- contraindicated in HTN
- effects the upper and lower segment of the uterus so if have clots helps contract them down and out
- consider 0.2 mg PO Q 6 hours x 4 doses as a maintenance dose once pPH is controlled or for a patient with retained products with manual sweep
hemabate for treating hemorrhage
- 250 mcg IM Q 15 minutes x3. max 2 mg
- contraindicated in asthma
- causes explosive diarrhea pretty quickly so give with immodium
TXA for treatment of hemorrhage
- 1 gram IV in 50 ml NS over 10-20 minutes or 1 gram PO
- initial dose has to be given within 3 hours of birth
- can give a 2nd dose 30 minutes later up to 24 hours
- decreases bleeding by inhibiting the breakdown of clots and fibrin
why does initiating breastfeeding help treat hemorrhage
- body will produce oxytocin which helps contract uterus down
why give pain meds in hemorrhage treatment
- you are giving all these meds to make the uterus contract down and work harder- can be painful and the contractions can feel like labor
treatment of hemorrhage- retained tissue
- 2nd iv
- prep patient/family
- assist with US (to look at uterus and see if there is retained products or clots) and manual removal
- pain meds if no epidural: IV fentanyl or nitrus
- prophylactic abx: probably will be given 2 g ancef (cephazolin)
- possible surgery (D&C) if cant get out the entire placenta or if can get all the pieces- needs to be NPO
when might you need a hysterectomy with retained tissue causing a hemorrhage
- accreta: least severe- may not need hysterectomy: placenta is growing into the endometrium linning
- percreta: placenta is embeded inside the muscle
- increta: placenta grows through the uterus and into the organs
what is retained tissue
- piece of membrane or extra lobe which doesn’t allow the uterus to contract down as well and puts the women at risk for PPH or delayed PPH
manuel sweep vs manual removal
- sweep: if pulling out remaining products
- removal: if removing the whole placenta
could a hemorrhage from retained tissue happen after a termination
- yes- but is rare
- if D&C: most likely not
- if medicated induced: more likely
how does the provider remove the retained tissue
- takes gloved hand and inserts it inside the cervix and into the uterus and then uses that hand to move any pieces along uterine wall
treatment of hemorrhage: trauma
- more common with operative vaginal deliveries- assisted deliveries (forceps and vacuum)
- lacerations: have the suture, anesthetic, sterile gloves, good light, and sponges ready
- hematomas
hematomas causing hemorrhages
- inside the vagina caused from lacerations that were not repaired right or pressure against the area that kept bleeding and the blood started to develop under the skin
- 500 ml can accumulate in the potential space of the iliorectal fossa
- may occur before any vulvar bruising or discoloring noted by RN
- may show S/S of hypovolemia out of proportion to estimated blood loss: dizzy, faint, pain and pressure against rectum feeling like they need to push
- pain is disproportional to reported perineal laceration and repair
treatment of hematomas
- packing
- ice
- watchful waiting
- evacuation and litigation if “bleeder” or if too big. usually done in OR need to be NPO
uterine inversion causes
- grand multiparity: ligaments are not very tight so harder to hold the uterus inside
- mismanagement of 3rd stage: delivery of the placenta and if the provider pulls to much on the cord and it isnt detached from the placenta
unlukcy
tx of inversion of uterus
- put it back into the vagina
- emergency
thromboembolic disorders
- identify them: of there is no clotting on the floor or in the bucket= problem
- anticipate: specific factors ordered for labor and low platelets
code white
- if no other hemorrhage interventions work or VS change (late sign of hypovolemia) call a code white
- all treatment already mentioned plus:
1. support team: interventional radiology, additional OB, blood bank, lab, anesthesia
2. uterine balloon tamponade
3. arterial embolization
4. uterine suturing techniques
5. ligation of arteries
6. hysterectomy - sometimes this isnt enough and you still have maternal death
pregnant person and blood loss
- have to loose more than non pregnant patient because of the 50% blood volume increase in pregnancy
- feel blood loss later than non pregnant
bakri balloon
- placed inside the cervix and into the uterus and then you insert NS into it and this will put pressure on the uterus to help it contract down
- can leave in for up to 12 -24 hours