A nurse is caring for a client who is 4 hr postpartum. The nurse finds a small amount of lochia rubra on the client's perineal pad. The fundus is midline and firm at the umbilicus. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Increase the rate of IV fluids.

Assist the client to ambulate.

Perform fundal massage.

Check for blood under the client's buttock.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

Check for blood under the client's buttock. This is because lochia rubra is the normal vaginal discharge that occurs after childbirth, consisting of blood, mucus, and tissue from the placenta and the uterus lining. It is usually heavy for the first three to four days and can pool under the client's buttocks if they are lying down. Checking for blood under the buttock can help assess the amount of bleeding and prevent complications such as infection or hemorrhage.

The other choices are not correct for the following reasons:

A. Increasing the rate of the IV fluids is not necessary because the client's fundus is firm and midline, indicating that the uterus is contracting well and preventing excessive bleeding.

B. Assisting the client to ambulate is not advisable because it can increase the lochia flow and cause fainting or dizziness due to blood loss.

C. Performing fundal massage is not indicated because the fundus is already firm and midline, meaning that the uterus is adequately contracted. Massaging a firm fundus can cause pain and discomfort to the client.

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Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Massage the client’s fundus. This is because the most common cause of postpartum hemorrhage is uterine atony, which is the failure of the uterus to contract after delivery. Massaging the fundus can stimulate uterine contractions and reduce bleeding by compressing the blood vessels at the placental site.

Choice A is not correct because administering oxytocin is not the first action to take. Oxytocin is a medication that can also help the uterus contract, but it should be given after assessing the uterine tone and bleeding.

Choice B is not correct because observing for pooling of blood under the buttocks is not a priority action. It can help estimate the amount of blood loss, but it does not address the cause of bleeding or stop it.

Choice C is not correct because checking the client’s blood pressure is not the first action to take. Blood pressure can indicate hypovolemia due to blood loss, but it is not a sensitive indicator and may remain normal until a significant amount of blood is lost.

A. This can be related to cleaning her perineal area. Be more careful. B. The baby may have a problem. Let's schedule an appointment. C. If this continues, call us back. For now, just watch her. D. This can be from the sudden withdrawal of your hormones. It is not a cause for alarm.

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

This can be from the sudden withdrawal of your hormones. It is not a cause for alarm. This is because newborn female babies may have a little bloody vaginal discharge in their diapers due to the withdrawal of maternal hormones after delivery. This usually stops as the hormones return to normal levels. The nurse should reassure the mother that this is a normal and harmless phenomenon and does not require any treatment.

Choice A is wrong because the blood is not related to cleaning her perineal area. The nurse should not blame the mother for being careless.

Choice B is wrong because the baby does not need an appointment for this condition. The nurse should not alarm the mother unnecessarily.

Choice C is wrong because the mother does not need to watch her baby for this condition. The nurse should not leave the mother in doubt or anxiety.

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A nurse is caring for a client who is 4 hr postpartum. The nurse finds a small amount of lochia rubra on the client's perineal pad. The fundus is midline and firm at the umbilicus. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

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