need to perform assessment within a few hours of birth & 6-8 weeks postpartum
→ **_BUBBLE-HE(EAT)_**: breasts, uterus, bladder, bowel, lochial (vaginal discharge after birth), episiotomy/lac/incision, Homan’s (for DVT), edema, emotions, attachment, transition
→ _Breasts_: normal findings include intact tender everted nipples, abnormal = abrasion, bleeding, flat, inverted nips
→ _Uterus_: measurement of postpartum fundal involution (***takes ~ 10 days for uterus to return to prepartum size***, can do fundal massage); normal = fundus firm, at or below umbilicus, midline, non-tender, uterine cramping relieved with motrin or vicodin, & decreasing with time; abnormal = boggy fundus, above umbilicus, left or right of midline, tender, & uterine cramping that is hard to control with motrin or vicodin & not decreasing in intensity with time
→ _Bladder_: normal = voiding regularly (no retention/distension), no bladder infection, diuresis, some stress incontinence; abnormal = inability to void, dysuria
→ _Bowel_: Normal = fear of bowel movement, hemorrhoids, no BM for 2-3 days PP; abnormal = no BM \> 3 days PP
→ _Lochia_: postpartum vaginal discharge, **hemorrhage = 1+ liter**, tx by 500mL lost or volume status change; types include lochia rubra (red, day 1-3), lochia serosa (pink, day 3-10), lochia alba (white, days 10-14), normal = lochia rubra x 3 days with small clots, menstrual odor; abnormal = soaking \>1 pad per hour with large golf-ball sized clots, foul odor.
→ _Episiotomy/Laceration/Incision_: normal = not bleeding, stitches/staples intact, no signs of inx, edema resolving; abnormal = bleeding, stitches have come out or loose, sxs of infection, edema not resolving
→ _DVT (aka Homan’s):_ normal = negative Homan’s, lower extremity edema is equal bilaterally, no warm or hot spots; abnormal = positive Homan’s, significantly greater edema on one side (esp left), warm/hot spot behind calf
→ _Emotions_: assess for PP depression at 6-8 week visit using Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) - score \> 10 suggest minor or major depression; f/u in 4 weeks to check on tx plan