Postpartum Flashcards
What is puerperium period?
Period when uterus returns to its non-pregnant condition. It
begins immediately after parturition and lasts until another pregnancy occurs.
What is involution?
Process of reduction of the uterus to its non-pregnant size and state following birth of the offspring.
What is the lochia?
The normal uterine discharge of blood, tissue, and mucus from
the vagina after birth.
What is lactogenesis and lactation?
Synthesis, secretion and delivery of milk from the mammary gland.
When is the amount of postpartum discharge greatest?
During the first 48 hours after calving.
What changes occur in the appearance of the discharge by Day 4 postpartum?
The discharge changes to dark yellow or brown.
What does the discharge look like by Day 10 postpartum?
It changes to red or reddish-grey due to the presence of blood and sloughed uterine tissue.
What is normal vulvar discharge?
Fluid and cellular debris, particularly from the uterus.
What defines abnormal discharge? When is it common?
Discharge which continues well past 20 days post-partum, has an unpleasant odor and/or
contains purulent material (infection).
More common after difficult calving, may be an indicator of potentially serious problems.
What happens to lochia volume as time goes on
It decreases (almost completely by day 20 PP)
What does uterine involution depend on?
Process depends upon the extent of uterine damage,
the fitness of the uterus prior to parturition, and other factors (nutrition, disease, infection, age).
What is the time range for uterin involution
Time ranges from 2 to 8 weeks, with an average of 5 to 6 weeks.
What does uterine involution involve?
Process involves the dying and sloughing of the endometrium. Aided by uterine contractions and extensive tissue reorganization and re-growth.
What happens to uterine length and weight over time?
They decrease, almost back to normal by 20 days PP
What occurs in the first 24h after calving related to contractions?
- During first 24 h after calving, uterine contractions occur about once every 3 to 5 minutes and may last 1 min or more.
- Number decreases with time, barely noticeable 3-5 days post-partum.
What occurs up to 15 days PP?
Up to 15 days post-partum, constriction of blood vessels leads to disintegration, dissolution, and sloughing of the hypertrophied endometrium.
When does the regenerative phase begin?
almost immediately in
intercaruncular areas.
When is more time required for re-growth of maternal caruncles
More time is required for the reduction and re-growth
of the maternal caruncles, especially those of the
previously pregnant horn.
How long does it take for the lining cells to form in the areas between the caruncles postpartum?
Within 8 days.
How long may complete restoration of deeper layers, such as the mucosa and gland cells, take after calving?
It may take up to 35 days.
When does the caruncular surface begin to slough postpartum?
By day 15 to 20 postpartum.
What happens to the caruncles after they slough?
They are covered with a new lining that grows in from the periphery.
When does most restoration of the uterine lining occur postpartum?
By 20 to 30 days after calving.
How long does it take for the uterine caruncles to regress to normal size?
Regression to normal size will not be complete until 50 to 60 days postpartum.
How does difficult calving affect the restoration process?
extends the time and extent of the entire restoration process.
