Postpartum Complications Flashcards
(197 cards)
New criteria for EBL in PPH?
EBL increased to 1000 mL for any type of delivery due to how hard it is to see the actual blood loss
What criteria can help you put together that there’s been a PPH?
EBL of 1000 ml
Signs of shock
H&H levels
BUT it depends on when you are hemorrhaging (early vs late)
What H&H levels are indicative of PPH?
Decrease of 10% from admission H&H
Hematocrit - below 33%
Hemoglobin - below 11
What if then H&H does show there’s been a hemorrhage?
H&H will determine the IV fluids, blood products, ,iron, etc
Two types of Post Partum Hemorrhage?
Early (primary)
Late (secondary)
What is early PPH?
What is the criteria?
When PPH is occurring within first 24 hours after giving birth
- most happen right at birth tho
EBL of more than 1000 mL & can confirm with H&H check showing a change of more than 10%.
What is late PPH?
How does the patho work?
PPH that happens after 24 hrs up to 6 weeks post partum.
- usually happens 2-3 weeks out
PPH late patho is that there is sloughing of the placenta and breakthrough bleeding occurs.
The major complication of any type of PPH?
Hemorrhagic shock rt hypovolemia or when you can’t perfuse your organs anymore
Number one cause of early PPH
Uterine atony
What is uterine atony?
Time phrase this usually occurs in?
Flaccid uterus with no tone and clamping which leads to bleeding
1 hr after giving birth
List possible causes of uterine atony
Over-distention of uterus Labor dystocia Too much Oxytocin Grandmultiparity Agents that cause uterus to relax Prolonged 3rd stage of labor Operative births Retained placenta Asian, Hispanics, Gingers Preeclampsia Precipitous labor NO risks
Explain how over-distention of the uterus can cause uterine atony
A big fetus or multiples/twins can lead to over distention and stretch making it harder for the uterus to clamp shut
Explain labor dystocia causing uterine atony
Labor dystocia or being prolonged can stretch out the uterus and cause atony issues
How can oxytocin use cause uterine atony?
Too much oxytocin to induce can cause aggressive contractions that can lead to trauma and therefore uterine atony
How is that grandmultiparity is a cause of uterine atony?
A high amount of births can make your uterus stretch and atony can occur.
Why do relaxation of uterus agents cause uterine atony?
Because if the uterus is relaxed by these then it can’t clamp
Why is a mom who has had a prolonged 3rd stage of labor be more likely to have uterine atony?
Prolonged 3rd stage means the placental separation takes a long time. This can create a larger time frame for the placenta to bleed since the uterus can’t clamp down if it is still attached
What are operative births and how can they cause uterine atony?
Operative births are episiotomies, vacuum, forceps, or C-sections.
And they can cause uterine atony bc it can cause more trauma to uterus.
What is the reason why a piece of the placenta being left behind can cause uterine atony?
A retained placenta means that the uterus can’t clamp and so the atony and bleeding occurs.
Which populations are at higher risk of uterine atony?
Asians, hispanics, and red heads
- natural red heads have higher risk of bleeding
How is it that preeclampsia can cause uterine atony?
The pre-clampsia occurs and a hypovolemic state happens since the fluid moves into the vascular in order to try to compensate for high blood pressure (not a good comp tho)
Precipitous labor can cause uterine atony how?
Precipitous labor means a really fast labor and so with fast labors, there can be trauma which leads to uterine atony.
What should you as a nurse be doing if you patient doesn’t have any risk factors of PPH?
You still need to do all your assessments and checks. It can happen to anyone!
PPH assessment findings from Uterine Atony
Late signs of PPH?
1) boggy uterus
2) Lochia saturated pad with large clots
3) Pale, clammy skin
4) anxiety bc she knows something is wrong
Late sign) Tachycardia + Hypotension + Decrease UO