A postpartum client has a fourth-degree perineal laceration. The nurse would expect which of the following medications to be ordered?
Select one:

Choice A Reason: Contact the physician, as it indicates early DIC. This is an incorrect answer that confuses a low pulse rate with a high pulse rate. DIC stands for disseminated intravascular coagulation, which is a life-threatening condition where abnormal clotting and bleeding occur simultaneously in the body. DIC can occur as a complication of postpartum hemorrhage, infection, or placental abruption. DIC can cause tachycardia (high pulse rate), not bradycardia (low pulse rate).

Choice B Reason: Contact the physician, as it is a first sign of postpartum eclampsia. This is an incorrect answer that misinterprets a low pulse rate as a sign of hypertension. Postpartum eclampsia is a condition where seizures occur in a woman who has preeclampsia or eclampsia after delivery. Preeclampsia and eclampsia are characterized by high blood pressure and proteinuria in pregnancy. Postpartum eclampsia can cause hypertension (high blood pressure), not hypotension (low blood pressure).

Choice C Reason: Document the finding as it is a normal finding at this time. This is because a pulse rate of 60 beats per minute is within the normal range for an adult and may reflect a physiological adaptation to the postpartum period. During pregnancy, the maternal blood volume and cardiac output increase, which can elevate the pulse rate. After delivery, these parameters gradually return to pre-pregnancy levels, which can lower the pulse rate.

Choice D Reason: Obtain an order for a CBC, as it suggests postpartum anemia. This is an incorrect answer that assumes that a low pulse rate is caused by anemia. Anemia is a condition where the red blood cell count or hemoglobin level is lower than normal, which can impair oxygen delivery to the tissues. Anemia can occur in the postpartum period due to blood loss during delivery or poor nutritional intake during pregnancy. Anemia can cause tachycardia (high pulse rate), not bradycardia (low pulse rate).

Choice A Reason: Pulmonary edema is a condition where fluid accumulates in the lungs, causing shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. It can occur in preeclampsia due to increased blood pressure and fluid retention, but it is not a definitive sign of eclampsia.

Choice B Reason: Convulsion (seizure) is a sudden, involuntary contraction of muscles that can cause loss of consciousness, shaking, and twitching. It is the main symptom of eclampsia and distinguishes it from preeclampsia.

Choice C Reason: Renal failure is a condition where the kidneys fail to filter waste products from the blood, resulting in high levels of creatinine and urea. It can occur in preeclampsia due to reduced blood flow to the kidneys, but it is not a specific indicator of eclampsia.

Choice D Reason: Retinal edema is a condition where fluid leaks into the retina, causing blurred vision and flashes of light. It can occur in preeclampsia due to increased blood pressure and damage to the blood vessels in the eye, but it is not a characteristic feature of eclampsia.