POSTPARTUM PHYSIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENTS AND NURSING CARE Ob chapter 12

 POSTPARTUM PHYSIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENTS AND NURSING CARE

Ob chapter 12

Postpartum Nursing Care

•       Focus of postpartum nursing care

–      Assessing for early signs of potential complications

•       Hemorrhage

•       Infection

–      Health promotion

•       Care of self, infant and family

–      Family education

•       Information about infant care, postpartum changes, family adaptation Reproductive System

•       Uterus

–      Physiological changes

•       Involution—return to prepregnant state

•       Afterpains

–      Assessments

•       Fundus, bleeding

–      Expected findings

•       Firm, progressive involution, decreasing vaginal discharge

•       1mL of blood = 1 g of weight

–      Nursing actions

•       Boggy uterus

•       Oxytocin

•       Patient education

•       Endometrium

–      Physiological changes

–      Lochia

–      Assessments

–      Expectant findings

–      Nursing actions

•       Excessive bleeding

•       Patient education

Location of Fundus at 6–12 Hours Postpartum 2, 4, 6, and 8 Days Postpartum (image on L)

Comparison of Heavy, Moderate, and Scant Lochia on Pads (image on R) Reproductive System (cont’d)

•       Vagina and perineum

–      Physiological changes

–      Assessments

•       REEDA (Redness, edema, ecchymosis, discharge, approximation of edges)