Postpartum Adaptations – Flashcards

Which intervention would be helpful to a bottle-feeding client who's experiencing hard or engorged breasts? a) Applying ice b) Administering bromocriptine (Parlodel) c) Restricting fluids d) Applying warm compresses

The nurse is providing education to a mother who is going to bottle feed her infant. What information will the nurse provide to this mom regarding breast care? a) Wear a tight, supportive bra b) Massage the breast when they are painful c) Express small amounts of milk when they are too full d) Run warm water over the breast in the shower

The nurse is making a home visit to a woman who is 4 days postpartum. Which finding would indicate to the nurse that the woman is experiencing a problem? a) Diaphoresis b) Lochia serosa c) Edematous vagina d) Uterus 1 cm below umbilicus

While educating a class of postpartum patients before discharge home after delivery, one woman asks when "will I stop bleeding?" How should the nurse respond? a) You should stop bleeding and have no discharge in the next 1 to 2 weeks b) The bleeding may slowly decrease over the next 1 to 3 weeks, changing color to a white discharge, which may continue for up to 6 weeks c) Bleeding may occur on and off for the next 2 to 3 weeks d) The bleeding may continue for 6 weeks

A woman is bottle-feeding her baby. When the nurse comes into the room the woman says that her breasts are painful and engorged. Which nursing intervention is appropriate? a) Assist the woman in placing ice packs on her breasts b) Explain to the woman that she should breastfeed because she is producing so much milk c) Assist the woman into the shower and have her run cold water over her breasts d) Ask if she wants a breast pump to empty her breasts

A nurse is caring for a non-breastfeeding client in the postpartum period. The client complains of engorgement. What suggestion should the nurse provide to alleviate breast discomfort? a) Apply warm compress b) Express milk frequently c) Apply hydrogel dressing d) Wear a well-fitting bra

A nurse is caring for a breastfeeding client who complains of engorgement. The nurse identifies that the client's condition is due to not fully emptying her breasts at each feeding. Which of the following should the nurse suggest to help her prevent engorgement? a) Dry the nipples following feedings b) Apply cold compresses to the breasts c) Provide the infant oral nystatin d) Feed the baby at least every two or three hours

A client in the postpartum period complains of constipation. The nurse should inform the client of which of the following that contributes to postpartum constipation? a) Discomfort due to hemorrhoids b) Distention of abdominal muscles c) Relaxation of abdominal muscles d) Separation of rectus muscles

A nurse is caring for a client in the postpartum period. The client is emotionally sensitive, feels a sense of failure, and attempts to hurt herself and the baby. The nurse understands that the client is exhibiting symptoms of which of the following conditions? a) Anxiety disorders b) Postpartum depression c) Postpartum psychosis d) Postpartum blues

A nurse is caring for a client who gave birth about 10 hours earlier. The nurse observes perineal edema in the client. What intervention should the nurse perform to decrease the swelling caused due to perineal edema? a) Use a warm sitz bath or tub bath b) Use ointments locally c) Apply ice d) Apply moist heat

You assess a postpartum woman's perineum and notice that her lochial discharge is moderate in amount and red. You would record this as what type of lochia? a) Lochia serosa b) Lochia alba c) Lochia normalia d) Lochia rubra

The nurse is assessing a breastfeeding mom 72 hours after delivery. When assessing her breast, the patient complains of bilateral breast pain around the entire breast. What is the most likely cause of the pain? a) Mastitis b) Interductal yeast infection c) Engorgement d) Blocked milk duct

The nurse is assigned to a patient on postpartum day 1. Prior to assessing her uterus, where should the nurse anticipate she will locate the fundus? a) At level of umbilicus b) 1cm below the umbilicus c) At the symphysis pubis d) 1cm above the umbilicus

When caring for a postpartum client who has given birth vaginally, the nurse assesses the client's respiratory status, noting that it has quickly returned to normal. The nurse understands that which of the following is responsible for this change? a) Decreased intra-abdominal pressure b) Decreased bladder pressure c) Use of anesthesia during delivery d) Increased progesterone levels

A woman who gave birth to a healthy newborn 2 months ago comes to the clinic and reports discomfort during sexual intercourse. Which suggestion by the nurse would be most appropriate? a) "It takes a while to get your body back to its normal function after having a baby." b) "Try doing Kegel exercises to get your pelvic muscles back in shape." c) "This is entirely normal, and many women go through it. It just takes time." d) "You might try using a water-soluble lubricant to ease the discomfort."

During a postpartum exam on the day of delivery, the woman complains that she is still so sore that she can't sit comfortably. You examine her perineum and find the edges of the episiotomy approximated without signs of a hematoma. Which intervention will be most beneficial at this point? a) Notify the RN b) Place an ice pack c) Put on a witch hazel pad. d) Apply a warm washcloth

Bonding between a mother and her infant can be defined how? a) Family growing closer together after the birth of a new baby b) A process of developing an attachment and becoming acquainted with each other c) The skin to skin contact that occurs in the delivery room d) An ongoing process in the year after delivery

A nurse is caring for a client on the second day postpartum. The client informs the nurse that she is voiding a large volume of urine frequently. Which of the following should the nurse identify as a potential cause for urinary frequency? a) Urinary tract infection b) Trauma to pelvic muscles c) Postpartum diuresis d) Urinary overflow

A postpartum client complains of stress incontinence. What information should the nurse suggest to the client to overcome stress incontinence? a) Reduce fluid intake b) Frequently empty the bladder c) Perform Kegel's exercises d) Perform aerobic exercises

The patient under your care is complaining she has not had a bowel moment since her infant was born 2 days ago. She asks the nurse what she can do to help her have a bowel movement. What intervention is appropriate to encourage having a bowel movement? a) Add dairy products to the patient's diet b) Encourage the patient to eat more fiber rich foods c) Have her hold her feces until she really feels the need to defecate d) Offer the patient a stimulant laxative

A woman has just delivered a baby. Her prelabor vital signs were T - 98.8 B/P-P-R 120/70, 80, 20. Which combination of findings during the early postpartum period should be reported immediately to the RN? a) Shaking chills with a fever of 100.3 b) B/P-P-R 90/50, 120, 24 c) Bradycardia and excessive, soaking diaphoresis d) Blood loss of 250 mL and WBC 25,000 cells/mL

The process by which the reproductive organs return to the nonpregnant size and function is termed what? a) Evolution b) Involution c) Decrement d) Progression

On assessment of a 2-day postpartum patient the nurses finds the fundus is boggy, at U and slightly to the right. What is the most likely cause of this assessment finding? a) Poor bladder tone b) Bladder distention c) Uteruine atony d) Full bowel

A woman who is breastfeeding her newborn reports that her breasts seem quite full. Assessment reveals that her breasts are engorged. Which of the following would the nurse identify as the most likely factor for this development? a) Cracking of the nipple b) Inability of infant to empty breasts c) Inadequate secretion of prolactin d) Improper positioning of infant

A nurse is caring for a client postpartum who complains of sore nipples. The nurse observes that the client's newborn is unable to suck properly although latched well. What intervention should the nurse perform to assist the baby to suck properly? a) Prolong the gap between feedings b) Position baby to face the nipple c) Suggest bottle feeding d) Check the baby's frenulum

A nurse is caring for a client who is nursing her baby boy. The client complains of afterpains. Secretion of which of the following should the nurse identify as the cause of afterpains? a) Oxytocin b) Estrogen c) Prolactin d) Progesterone

A client in her sixth week postpartum complains of general weakness. The client has stopped taking iron supplements that were prescribed to her during pregnancy. The nurse would assess the client for which of the following? a) Hyperglycemia b) Hypertension c) Hypovolemia d) Hypothyroidism

The nurse is caring for a client in the postpartum period. The client has difficulty in voiding and is catheterized. The nurse then would monitor the client for which of the following? a) Increased urine output b) Stress incontinence c) Loss of pelvic muscle tone d) Urinary tract infection

What is the primary function of uterine contractions after delivery of the infant and placenta? a) Return the uterus to normal size b) Seal off the blood vessels at the site of the placenta c) Stop the flow of blood d) Close the cervix

Charting on the nursing care plan patient care, which nursing diagnosis has the highest priority for a postpartum patient? a) Acute pain related to afterpains or episiotomy discomfort b) Risk for infection related to multiple portals of entry for pathogens, including the former site of the placenta, episiotomy, bladder and breasts c) Risk for injury: postpartum hemorrhage related to uterine atony d) Risk for injury: falls related to postural hypotension and fainting

The nurse, assessing the lochia of a client, attempts to separate a clot and identifies the presence of tissue. Which of the following observations would indicate the presence of tissue? a) Yellowish white lochia b) Foul-smelling lochia c) Difficult to separate clots d) Easy to separate clots

You are the home health nurse making an initial call on a new mother who delivered her third baby five days ago. The woman says to you "I just feel so down this time. Not at all like when I had my other babies. And this one just doesn't sleep. I feel so inadequate." What is the best response to this new mother? a) "It sounds like you have the 'baby blues.' They are common after having a baby when you are not getting enough sleep, are busy with your other children, and are still a bit uncomfortable from the delivery. They will most likely go away in a day or two." b) "Tell me, are you seeing things that aren't there, or hearing voices?" c) "Every baby is different with their own temperament. Maybe this one just isn't ready to sleep when you want him to." d) "It sounds like you need to make an appointment with a counselor. You may have postpartum depression."