A new mother of a newborn girl calls the clinic in a panic, concerned about the blood-tinged soiled diaper. What is the best response from the nurse?

To check for postpartum hemorrhage.

This is because postpartum hemorrhage is a serious and potentially life-threatening complication that can occur within 24 hours of birth or later. It is defined as a blood loss of more than 500 mL in a vaginal delivery or more than 1000 mL in a cesarean delivery. The most common cause of postpartum hemorrhage is uterine atony, which is the failure of the uterus to contract after delivery. Other causes include lacerations, retained placental fragments, coagulation disorders, and uterine rupture. Monitoring the vital signs, especially blood pressure, and pulse, can help detect signs of hypovolemia due to blood loss. Other signs include pale skin, cold and clammy extremities, delayed capillary refill, decreased urine output, and altered mental status.

Choice B is not correct because determining if the mother's milk is coming in is not the primary rationale for monitoring a new mother every 15 minutes for the first hour after delivery. Milk production usually begins around 48 to 72 hours after delivery and is influenced by hormonal changes, breastfeeding frequency, and maternal health. Although breastfeeding support is important for postpartum care, it is not a priority over checking for postpartum hemorrhage.

Choice C is not correct because monitoring the mother's blood pressure to note any elevations is not the primary rationale for monitoring a new mother every 15 minutes for the first hour after delivery. Elevated blood pressure can indicate gestational hypertension or preeclampsia, which are serious conditions that can affect postpartum women. However, these conditions are more likely to cause symptoms such as headache, blurred vision, epigastric pain, and proteinuria⁴.

Moreover, blood pressure may not be a sensitive indicator of blood loss and may remain normal until a significant amount of blood is lost¹.

Choice D is not correct because answering questions the new parents may have is not the primary rationale for monitoring a new mother every 15 minutes for the first hour after delivery. Although providing education and support to the new parents is an essential part of postpartum care, it is not a priority over checking for postpartum hemorrhage. The new parents may have questions about infant care, feeding, contraception, recovery, and other topics that can be addressed during the postpartum period.

Determine the client’s temperature. This is because shaking chills during the immediate postpartum period can be a sign of infection, such as endometritis or mastitis. Infection is a serious complication that can lead to sepsis and shock if not treated promptly. The nurse should measure the client’s temperature and look for other signs of infection, such as foul-smelling lochia, breast tenderness, or tachycardia.

Choice A is wrong because placing the client on seizure precautions is not indicated for shaking chills. Seizure precautions are used for clients who have eclampsia or other conditions that increase the risk of seizures.

Choice B is wrong because covering the client with warm blankets may not be helpful for shaking chills. Warm blankets may increase the body temperature and worsen the infection.

Choice C is wrong because notifying the charge nurse is not the first action the nurse should take. The nurse should assess the client’s condition before reporting to the charge nurse or the provider.