Nursing Management During the Postpartum Period

After teaching a postpartum client about postpartum blues, the nurse determines that the teaching was effective when the client makes which statement?

"I might feel like laughing one minute and crying the next."

A nurse is conducting a class on various issues that might develop after going home with a new infant. After discussing how to care for hemorrhoids, the nurse understands that which statement by the class would indicate the need for more information?

"I only eat a low-fiber diet"

A nurse is providing care to a postpartum woman who gave birth about 2 days ago. The client asks the nurse, "I haven't moved my bowels yet. Is this a problem?" Which response by the nurse would be most appropriate?

"It might take up to a week for your bowels to return to their normal pattern"

A woman who is breastfeeding her newborn says, "He doesn't seem to want to nurse. I must be doing something wrong." After teaching the woman about breastfeeding and offering suggestions, which statement by the mother indicates the need for additional teaching?

"Some women just can't breast feed. Maybe I'm one of these women."

A nurse is to care for a client during the postpartum period. The client reports pain and discomfort in her breasts. What signs should a nurse look for to find out if the client has engorged breasts? Select all that apply.

Breasts are tender Breasts are hard

Which nursing intervention is appropriate for prevention of a urinary tract infection (UTI) in the postpartum woman?

Encouraging the woman to empty her bladder completely ever 2 to 4 hours

When teaching the new mother about breastfeeding, the nurse is correct when providing what instructions? Select all that apply.

Place baby in uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact (kangaroo care) with the mother Help the mother initiate breastfeeding within 30 minutes of birth Encourage breastfeeding of the newborn infant on demand

A nurse finds the uterus of a postpartum woman to be boggy and somewhat relaxed. This a sign of which condition?

atony

A woman gave birth vaginally approximately 12 hours ago, and her temperature is now 100° F (37.8° C). Which action would be most appropriate?

continue to monitor the woman's temp every 4 hours; this finding is normal

A postpartum client is having difficulty stopping her urine stream. Which should the nurse do next?

educate the client on how to perform Kegel exercises

During a routine home visit, the couple asks the nurse when it will be safe to resume full sexual relations. Which answer would be the best?

generally within 3 to 6 weeks

A client who gave birth to twins 6 hours ago becomes restless and nervous. Her blood pressure falls from 130/80 mm Hg to 96/50 mm Hg. Her pulse drops from 80 to 56 bpm. She was induced earlier in the day and experienced placental abruption (abruptio placentae). Based on this information, what postpartum complication would the nurse expect is happening?

hemorrhage

A client appears to be resting comfortably 12 hours after giving birth to her first child. In contrast, she labored for more than 24 hours, the primary care provider had to use forceps to deliver the baby, and she had multiple vaginal examinations during labor. Based on this information what postpartum complication is the client at risk for developing?

infection

Two days ago, a woman gave birth to her third infant; she is now preparing for discharge home. After the birth of her second child, she developed an endometrial infection. Nursing goals for this discharge include all of the following except:

maintaining previous household routines to prevent infection

A nurse is inspecting the perineal pad of a client who gave birth vaginally to a healthy newborn 6 hours ago. The nurse observes a 5-inch stain of lochia on the pad. The nurse would document this as:

moderate

A client who has a breastfeeding newborn reports sore nipples. Which intervention can the nurse suggest to alleviate the client's condition?

offer suggestions based on observation to correct positioning or latching

A nurse is reviewing a postpartum woman's history and labor and birth record. The nurse determines the need to closely monitor this client for infection based on which factor?

placenta removed via manual extraction

A client gave birth 2 days ago and is preparing for discharge. The nurse assesses respirations to be 26 breaths/min and labored, and the client was short of breath ambulating from the bathroom this morning. Lung sounds are clear. The nurse alerts the primary care provider and the nurse-midwife to her concern that the client may be experiencing:

pulmonary embolism

A client who has just given birth to a baby girl demonstrates behavior not indicative of bonding when she performs which action?

talks to company and ignores the baby lying next to her

A nurse helps a postpartum woman out of bed for the first time postpartum and notices that she has a very heavy lochia flow. Which assessment finding would best help the nurse decide that the flow is within normal limits?

the color of the flow is red

Which finding would lead the nurse to suspect that a woman is developing a postpartum complication?

an absence of lochia

The birth center recognizes that attachment is very important in the early stages after birth. Which policy would be inappropriate for the birth center to implement when assisting new parents in this process?

policies that discourage unwrapping and exploring the infant

A G1 P1001 mother is just home after giving birth to her first child 5 days ago. Her birth was complicated by an emergency cesarean birth resulting from incomplete cervical dilation (dilatation) and hemorrhage. The nurse determines that the mother has not slept longer than 3 hours at one time. The appropriate nursing diagnosis for this client care issue is:

at risk for postpartum depression due to inadequate risk

A new mother tells the nurse at the baby's 3 month check-up, "When she cries, it seems like I am the only one who can calm her down." This is an example of which behavior?

attachment