1. The Postpartum Period

NUR 148 CH 21

• The Postpartum Period

Answer First 6 Weeks After Delivery

• The Postpartum Period

Answer Starts immediately after delivery of placenta Ends 6 weeks following delivery

Woman's body has returned to prepregnancy state Traditional time of "postpartum visit" with care provider

• "Fourth stage" of labor

Answer First 1-4 hours following delivery of placenta, Critical period,

• First 1-2 hours usually spent in L&D,

Maternal physiology begins to return to prepregnancy state, Time of initial bonding between newborn and mother, and other members of the family, Newborn transition to extrauterine life,

Initial breastfeeding experience

Answer What makes postpartum period a critical period?

• Initial breastfeeding experience

Answer occurs within the first hours, effective in pro- longing breastfeeding

• "Initial" postpartum period

Answer 1 / 3

Gibby's definition for purposes of lecture First 1-2 hours following birth "Recovery"

• Immediate postpartum period

Answer First 24 hours after delivery

• Early postpartum period

Answer From 25th hour following delivery to end of first post- partum week

• Late postpartum period

Answer 2nd - 6th weeks postpartum

• Family-centered care, Mother,

Baby, Family/friends,

Focus of this lecture - care of the new mother

Answer Nurse's role during the initial postpartum period

• 1) Prevention of uterine hemorrhage from placental site,

2) Prevention of infection

Answer Priorities of care during initial postpartum period

• every 15 minutes x 4

Answer Vital Sign Assessment for BP, P, R after Vaginal delivery and Abdominal or cesarean delivery

should be every? 2 / 3

• At least once in first hour postpartum

Answer Vital Sign Assessment for Temperature

• preeclampsia

Answer Consistently elevated BP following delivery can indicate onset of?

• 1 hour of delivery

Answer Pulse should return to prelabor values within how many hours of delivery?

• Dehydration Infection

Excessive blood loss

Answer Tachycardia may indicate

• Any temperature > 100.4 must be reported to provider

Answer Dehydrating effects of labor can result in elevated temperature for up to 24 hours postpartum

• Parenteral, epidural or spinal narcotics,

General anesthesia

Answer Respiratory Rate should be within normal limits following delivery, Carefully monitored if client has had

Answer

• Height, consistency, placement
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