The Puerperium Period And Lactation

Question 0

Puerperium?

Answer 0

The period when the reproductive tract returns to it’s non-pregnant condition so that the animal can get pregnant again.

Question 1

What three things take place during parturition?

Answer 1

Loss of placental function
Tissue damage
Deterioration of maternal placenta (during and after fetal placental expulsion)

Question 2

Lactation?

Answer 2

Synthesis, secretion, and removal of milk from the mammary gland

Question 3

What 5 this occur during the puerperium as steps to repair the reproductive tract?

Answer 3

1) uterine involution
2) decrease uterine size
3) decrease in uterine volume
4) endometrial repair
5) expulsion of lochia

Question 4

When does ovarian function return?

Answer 4

After the puerperium period

Question 5

Why is the shortest possible puerperium period desirable in polyestrous animals?

Answer 5

The shorter the interval between pregnancies, the greater the offspring, and the greater the efficiency of meat production

Question 6

What 4 major events occur in the puerperium towards conception?

Answer 6

1) myometrial contractions
2) endometrial repair
3) elimination of bacterial contamination of the reproductive tract
4) resumption of ovarian activity

Question 7

What are the main functions and reasons for myometrial contractions?

Answer 7

1) Facilitate the discharge of fluids and tissue debris
2) Compress vasculature reducing possibility of hemmorrhaging
3) reduce the size of the uterus

Question 8

How does suckling from young initiate myometrial contractions?

Answer 8

It induces oxytocin release which increases the rates of myometrial contractions

Question 9

What is so different about the dairy cows when considering oxytocin release and myometrial contractions?

Answer 9

Because dairy calves are removed from their mother, oxytocin levels are decreased and uterine involution is delayed

Question 10

Lochia?

Answer 10

Blood-tinged containing remnants of fetal placenta and endometrial tissue

Question 11

When is bloody discharge of lochia released in the dairy cow?

Answer 11

2-10 days

Question 12

Is it normal for there to be an increase in lochia discharge at around 5 days?

Answer 12

Yes, because more sloughing of the carunclar surfaces is occurring and causing vascular scabs to leak more blood

Question 13

When does endometrial caruncle repair occur?

Answer 13

Once the fetal cotyledons and the maternal caruncles separate

Question 14

What must occur before endometrial-caruncle repair is initiated?

Answer 14

1) vasoconstriction is stalk of caruncle
2) necrosis
3) loss of cellular integrity (~5 days)

Question 15

Necrosis in endometrial-carbuncular repair?

Answer 15

Sloughing of caruncular mass/necrotic tissue

Question 16

What occurs during repair of endometrial-caruncular repair?

Answer 16

Caruncles are covered with endometrial epithelium

Intercaruncular regions are also repaired (~8 days)

Question 17

T/F: the prepartum tract with lochial fluid is the ideal environment for bacterial growth.

Answer 17

F: postpartum

Question 18

Due to increased leucocytes, which hormone had elevated levels at parturition?

Answer 18

Estradiol

Question 19

Name a few infections that can occur postpartum?

Answer 19

Retained placenta, distocia, weak myometrial contractions

Question 20

Day 4 postpartum?

Answer 20

Sloughing of decidual tissue

Question 21

Day 10 postpartum?

Answer 21

1) sloughing of decidual tissues
2) stalk non-existent
3) size reduction from vasoconstriction of blood vessels

Question 22

Day 15 postpartum?

Answer 22

1) reduced caruncular size
2) covered in mucous
3) lochia almost nonexistent
4) pus-like material present
5) normal phagocytosis of deteriorating tissue by leukocytes

Question 23

Day 20 postpartum?

Answer 23

1) caruncular size close to non-pregnant size
2) mass of blood vessels between Myometrial and epithelium covering caruncles
3) uterine fluid is mostly mucous

Question 24

What is the only behavioral requirement of the neonate?

Answer 24

Suckling the dam