postpartum assessment

Question 1

Within first 24 hrs …

Answer 1

client’s pulse rate begins to drop.
client’s temperature may be slightly elevated.

Question 2

Vaginal discharge is bloody (lochia rubra) for

Answer 2

3 to 4 days, then it becomes pink or pale brown (lochia serosa).

Question 3

Lochia alba

Answer 3

After the next 10 to 12 days, it changes to yellowish white

Question 4

About 1 to 2 weeks after delivery bleeding…

Answer 4

eschar from the placental site sloughs off and bleeding occurs; bleeding is usually self-limited.

Question 5

Average blood loss for a woman delivering vaginally

Answer 5

200-500mL

Question 6

Uterus after 5-7 days

Answer 6

It is firm and no longer tender, extending midway between the symphysis and umbilicus.

Question 7

Ueterus by 2 weeks

Answer 7

It is no longer palpable abdominally.

Question 8

Uterus 4-6 weeks

Answer 8

Returns to a pre-pregnancy size.

Question 9

Baby blues symptoms reside by

Answer 9

7-10 days

Question 10

Postpartum depression occurs

Answer 10

-within the first 12 months after delivery
-does not resolve without intervention
-can affect the mother’s ability to care for herself and her newborn

Question 11

what physiological maternal changes occur during the postpartum period?

Answer 11

-Urinary output and diaphoresis increase.
-Fundus begins to descend toward the pelvis after 24 hours (involution).

Question 12

Involution

Answer 12

The fundus begins to descend into the pelvic cavity after 24 hours

Question 13

Postpartum assessment are done

Answer 13

hourly for the first 2 hours after delivery and then continued every 4 hours during the initial 24 hours postpartum.

Question 14

BUBBLEHE

Answer 14

Breast
Uterus
Bladder
Bowels and rectum (for hemorrhoids)
Lochia
Extremities/Epistiotomy
Homan’s sign -push foot back looks for thrombosis
Emotional status

Question 15

the nurse finds the client’s perineal pad saturated with blood and blood soaked into the bed linen under the client’s buttocks. The nurse’s first action is which of the following?

Answer 15

Gently massage the uterine fundus.

Question 16

A nurse is preparing to perform a fundal assessment on a postpartum client. The initial nursing action in performing this assessment is which of the following?

Answer 16

Ask the mother to urinate and empty her bladder.

Question 17

The nurse is assessing the lochia on a one-day postpartum client. The nurse notes that the lochia is red and has a foul-smelling odor. The nurse determines that this assessment finding:

Answer 17

indicates the presence of infection.

Question 18

A nurse is instructing a postpartum mother about lochia and the amount of expected lochia drainage. The nurse instructs the mother that the normal amount of lochia may vary but should never exceed the need for:

Answer 18

should never exceed 4 to 8 peri-pads per day

Question 19

A nurse is providing instructions to a postpartum client after delivery of a healthy newborn infant. The nurse instructs the mother that she should expect normal bowel elimination to return:

Answer 19

three days postpartum.