Powerpoints Test 2 Module 4 Flashcards
Begins immediately after birth and continues for approximately 6 weeks or until the women’s reproductive system returns to its pre-pregnant state.
Postpartum
Postpartum nursing interventions
Bonding: encourage patients to see, hold, and touch their newborn
>Taking in: focus is caring for self
>Taking hold: focus is on caring for the baby
>Letting go: focus is on the family unit
•Postpartum “Blues” vs. Postpartum depression
Uterus-
? is the retrogressive return to normal condition after pregnancy
Immediately after delivery what should you see:
•involution
-Fundal height is midway
•Afterpains
•***Non-Pregnant 2 oz/2 lbs 4 oz
Factors that affect involution
Slow?
Enhanced ?
Slow Involution •Prolonged labor •Anesthesia or excessive analgesia •Difficult birth •Grand multiparity •Full bladder •Incomplete expulsion
Enhance Involution •Uncomplicated labor and birth •Complete expulsion •Breastfeeding •Early ambulation
Normal involution of the uterus each day
- The height of the fundus then decreases about one finger breath (approximately 1 cm) each day.
- 14 Days~ not palpalable
How to assess a fundus
Check for
- Consistency
- Position
- Height
- Tenderness
The uterus rids itself of the debris remaining after birth through a discharge called what?, which is classified according to its appearance and contents.
Lochia
The composition of lochia is made up of:
Endometrial tissue
•Epithelial cells
•Erythrocytes
•Leukocytes
How should you have rubra (red) discharge after birth?
What should It look like ?
When to know it’s abnormal?
1-3 days
Bloody & clots Increased flow: - breastfeeding - standing - physical activity
Foul Smell
Large clots
Quickly
saturates pad
How should you have serosa pink/brown discharge after birth?
What should It look like ?
When to know it’s abnormal?
3-10 days
Blood & mucous consistency
Foul Smell
Large clots
Quickly saturates pad
How should you have alba white/yellow discharge after birth?
What should It look like ?
When to know it’s abnormal?
10-14 days or longer
Mostly mucous
No strong odor
Foul Smell
Red/pink
Lochia return
How to assess ones pad/lochia after giving birth
Assessment
•Type & Amount
•Presence of odor
•Presence of clots
Scant amt - 1inch
Light-4 inches
Moderate-6inch
Heavy -heavy in 1 hour
Assessment of Perineum
REEDA
- R-redness
- E-edema
- E-ecchymosis
- D-drainage
- A-approximation
Breast Care:
Lactating Mother
Keep breasts clean and dry (use breast pads as needed)
•Report sore or cracked nipples to lactation nurse
Breast Care: Non-Lactating Mothers
Firm, supportive bra for 3-4 days
•Apply cold compress for 15 minutes as needed
•Clean, raw, green cabbage leaves for swelling or discomfort
•Pain medicine as needed
•Do not massage or apply heat to the breast
•Educate on Comfort Measures, such as ice packs and ibuprofen
•Discuss breast engorgement and breast pads for leaking
Normal immediate weight loss after birth
Immediately weight loss?
•afterbirth is 13 pounds, which accounts for the fetus, placenta, and amniotic fluid
- Loss of extra-cellular fluid weight loss?
- leads to an additional loss of 5 to 15 pounds during the puerperium.
What may cause difficulty voiding after birth and when should it diminish
Effects of anesthesia or trauma to the bladder from delivery may prevent the bladder from emptying completely.
Effects of trauma to the urethra and bladder should typically diminish in 24 hours.
Nursing interventions for bladder emptying
I&O for 24 hours post •Void every 3-4 hours. •Voiding at least 150 ml. •Unable to void at 6 hours post-delivery •Foley catheter should be left in place if more than 700ml output, prevention of hypotension post bladder decompression. •Peppermint oil in the toilet
How much blood one looses vaginally and c-section?
Increase in circulating blood volume during pregnancy
- Blood loss:
- vaginal delivery ~ 500 mL
- cesarean delivery ~ 800 and 1000 mL.
•Due to the increase in circulating blood volume during pregnancy, blood loss at delivery can be managed in normal healthy person.
Reason for diuresis (urge to urinate) after pregnancy
Excess fluid
3000 mL of fluid per day
Diaphoresis
GI assessment after birth
What GI risks do one have after birth?
Assess bowel sounds, distention, and flatus
•Effects of anesthesia, medications (magnesium sulfate, and narcotics), hemorrhoids, episiotomy, lacerations, dehydration, immobility, and fear of pain place the mother at risk for constipation.
•Gaseous distention can occur for 2-3 days follow birth from a decrease in gastric mobility and muscle tone, and relaxation of the abdominal wall.
Normal GI output after birth
Fears of postpartum mom and GI and birth?
Constipation can occur from the lack of fluid and food intake during labor
- Bowel tone is sluggish as a result of elevated progesterone levels.
- Often patients are hesitant to have a bowel movement due to pain in the perineal area that is cause by an episiotomy, lacerations, or hemorrhoids.
- Some patients are also fearful that they will rip their stitches during a bowel movement.
Postpartum constipation prevention
Discuss fears about sutures and perineal changes
•Advise early and frequent ambulation
•Discuss side effects of medications
•Encourage drinking 6-8 glasses of water/day
•Eating high fiber diet
•Sitz baths for pain management and topical anesthetics to help control perineal pain.
•Normal bowel activity returns 2-3 days postpartum.
Hemorrhoid statistics in postpartum women
•In a prospective study of 165 pregnant women
- 7.8% experienced thrombosed external hemorrhoids in late pregnancy
- 35% experienced anal lesion in the postpartum period
- 20% thrombosed external hemorrhoids in the postpartum period
- 15% anal lesions in the postpartum period.
•91% of these women had hemorrhoids on their first postpartum day. **