Module 8: Postpartum and Transition to Parenthood Flashcards
What kind of questions could you ask parents to assess their initial adaptation to parenting?
- Tell me about your labour and birth?
- Was it what you expected?
- Do you have any questions about the experience?”
- It can also be helpful to specifically ask the father, “and how was it for you?”
What are 3 topics of maternal postpartum care?
- promoting maternal health
- providing education
- preparing woman and family for discharge
What are 4 maternal assessments done in the first 24 hours postpartum?
- vital signs
- fundus- position and tone
- flow- amount, color, consistency
- perineum- swelling, pain, stitches
- bladder- voiding
- bowel- last BM, does she need stool softener?
- breasts
- pain- perineal pain? Incisional pain post C/S
- legs (for thrombosis)
- nutrition and hydration
- support systems
- emotional status
- readiness for self-care
- readiness for baby care
What is the acronym BUBBLES?
- Breasts
- Uterus
- Bowel
- Bladder
- Lochia
- Episiotomy
- Supports
What is the average blood loss for vaginal birth? Caesarean birth?
- physiologic changes of pregnancy, mainly increased blood volume, enable the woman to deal with the normal blood loss that occurs after birth
- vaginal birth is 300-500 ml
- caesarean birth it is 500-1000 ml
What is involution? How is it assessed?
- the return of the uterus to pre-pregnant state
- assessed by palpating the fundus and monitoring the vaginal flow
What is the measurement of fundus at the end of third stage labour?
- the fundus should be approximately 2cm below the umbilicus and midline
- By 12 hours postpartum it can rise to 1cm above the umbilicus then
- by 24 hours it should be at or just below the umbilicus.
- It should descend by 1-2 cm every 24 hours
What does it mean if the fundus is above umbilicus or deviated to the right?
- it may indicate a full bladder.
- A full bladder increases the risk of post-partum hemorrhage (PPH) as the uterus is not able to contract efficiently
Why is the hormone oxytocin significant in postpartum period (uterus)?
- promotes involution by causing the uterus to contract and compress the blood vessels that fed the placental bed
What colour is the uterine discharge first 2 hours after birth?
- uterine discharge is bright red and should be approximately the amount of a heavy period
- normal for small clots to be present.
- Uterine discharge is known as lochia and the amount and color changes over time
What colour is lochia (uterine discharge) at 3-4days? 2 weeks? 4-8 weeks?
- Lochia rubra: is dark red and lasts for 3-4 days
- Lochia serosa: is pink or brown and lasts for 10-14 days
- Lochia alba: is yellow to white and may last up to 4-8 weeks
What are 4 factors increase risks for perineal trauma (perineal lacerations)?
- poor maternal nutritional status,
- birth position,
- pelvic anatomy,
- fetal malpresentation and position,
- large infant,
- use of forceps or vacuum,
- prolonged second stage, or
- precipitate birth
What is the acronym REEDA when assessing perineum tears or episiotomies in the postpartum period?
- when assessing the perineum in the post-partum period, it is important to turn the woman onto her side
- Redness,
- Edema,
- Ecchymosis,
- Discharge, and
- Approximation
What is a hematoma?
- hematoma: is a collection of blood in the connective tissue
- a woman may develop a pelvic hematoma
What are 3 pharmacological ways incisional pain from caesarean birth be managed?
- epidural opioids,
- patient controlled analgesia,
- IM, oral, or rectal analgesics including anti-inflammatories
What are 3 interventions that happens by day 1 post op of caesarean birth?
- abdominal incision dressing may be removed
- normal diet resumed: as long as bowel sounds are present
- urinary catheter removed
What 2 breastfeeding positions can mother use after caesarean birth?
- football hold or
- side lying
What are 2 increased risks for women who had surgical delivery?
Increased risk of thromboembolism:
- to reduce risk: use of compression stockings or automated compression devices postpartum until the woman is fully mobile
Increased risk for wound infection:
- postpartum teaching,
- women need to be advised to look for redness, swelling, discharge, or increasing pain
- to notify their care provider immediately
What is attachment?
- is a mutual process where the behaviours and characteristics of one elicit behaviours and characteristics of the other
- For example, a newborn’s cries should elicit a response from the parent. The response from the mother or parent elicits a response from the newborn (either settles or continues to cry.)
What is the mothering hormone (1)?
- oxytocin:
- supports attachment by reducing maternal stress
- promoting maternal well-being which affects parenting behaviour
What are 4 behaviours do you expect to see that would indicate positive attachment process?
- Reaching out for the infant,
- talking to the infant,
- calling the infant by name,
- smiling, kissing, and
- responding to crying by picking the infant up and
- cuddling
What are 4 nursing strategies can you use to support attachment?
- Skin to skin care,
- acknowledging how the infant looks like one parent or the other,
- saying things like “look how he/she turns his/her head when you speak.
- Look how easily the baby settles in your arms.”
- Encouraging the parents to provide care such as bathing and changing diapers.
- Teaching the parents that attachment is reciprocal; that the infant will want to be held close and responding immediately to cries or fussiness builds trust and security
What is maternal role attainment?
- immediate postpartum period is a time for women to recuperate from the birth and
- adjust to the realities of being a mother
- period of fundamental role adjustment,
What are the 3 phases of maternal role attainment described by Rubin (1984)?
- taking in: 2-3 days (dependent: help me)
- taking hold: 3-14 days (independent: ive got to help myself)
- letting go: 15 days-6months (interdependent: we are all in this together)
What is the 4 phases of “becoming a mother” described by Mercer (students of Rubins)
- commitment, attachment to the unborn baby, and preparation for delivery and motherhood during pregnancy
- acquaintance/attachment to the infant, learning to care for the infant, and physical restoration during the first 2 to 6 weeks following birth
- moving toward a new normal
- achievement of a maternal identity through redefining self to incorporate motherhood (around 4 months)
What are 4 maternal factors would affect the time frames and achievements of the phases in “becoming a mother”
- maternal age
- relationship with the father of the child
- socioeconomic status
- cultural practices
- perception of the birth experience
- early mother-infant separation
- social stress
- social support
- personality traits (temperament, empathy, and rigidity)
- self-concept
- child-rearing attitudes
- perception of the infant
- role strain
- health status
Infant variables included:
- temperament
- appearance
- responsiveness
- health status
What 4 signs/observations of adjusting parents that would be concerning during postpartum period?
- unable or unwilling to discuss labour and birth
- refers to self as ugly or useless
- excessively preoccupied with body image
- markedly depressed
- lack of support system
- partner or other family members react negatively to the infant
- refusal to interact with or care for the newborn
- expressed disappointment over the sex of the newborn
- views newborn as messy or unattractive
- baby reminds parents of someone they don’t like
- difficulty sleeping
- loss of appetite
What are 4 newborn care education topics to be discussed during discharge?
- importance of skin to skin
- newborn feeding: breastmilk, formula storage, preparation, cue based feeding
- behaviours: sleep wake states
- infant crying: shaken baby syndrome prevention
- safe sleep environment: back to sleep
- infant care: cord care, bathing, tummy time, consoling techniques, S&S jaundice, car seat safety, weight lost/gain, immunization, communicable disease
What are 4 care education topics for mothers to be discussed during discharge?
- rest and activity
- post partum blues, depression
- self care: fundus, hygiene, nutrition, pain management, contraception, perineum care, incision care,
- newborn feeding: breast, nipple care, engorgement
- smoke free environment
- Normal physiological changes
Are cars eat safety checks done at hospital?
- yes upon discharge
- Car seat checks (ensuring proper positioning and anchoring) are performed
What is the position for infant safe sleep?
- all infants should be placed on their backs for sleep (supine not prone position)
- The “Back to Sleep” reduced number of Infant Death syndrome (SIDS) death
What sleep position increase incidence of “flat head”
- supine
- flat head: medically referred to as plagiocephaly
- supervised tummy time when awake is recommended