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Postpartum Pain ManagementHow you feel should guide your activity level. You may wish to limit your visitors in order to get the rest you need and to take advantage of the nursing care and teaching. We support your choices and have very few routines or rules. Please tell the staff what is important to you during your hospital stay. We encourage you to ask questions and hope you feel well cared for. Taking good care of yourself is an important part of parenting. It will be some time before your body returns to how it was before you became pregnant, but there are things you can do that will assist the natural recovery phase. Pain Management You will be asked how you feel periodically throughout your stay in the hospital. You can help by telling us on a scale of 0 to 10 how your pain feels. Having no pain is characterized by 0 (zero) and 10 is the worse possible pain you know. As the parent, you may also find it comforting to know that we have a scale to measure newborn pain that your baby may experience during a procedure such as circumcision or blood draw. We make every effort to comfort your newborn during any painful procedure and we will teach you how to do the same. Your doctor or midwife has left orders for medications to reduce your pain and increase your comfort. Your nurse will administer any additional pain medications prescribed by your physician or midwife. Let your nurse know if you have pain as soon as you begin to feel uncomfortable. In addition to pain medication, your nurse can suggest comfort techniques such as the use of ice on sore stitches or sitting and lying positions that can help you feel more comfortable. Bleeding and Afterpains Bleeding will decrease over the next few weeks, and change color from bright red to pink to brown to yellow and then clear. It should have a strong fleshy smell, not a putrid odor. A return to bright red bleeding or passing of large clots once your bleeding has slowed may signify excessive activity on your part. It is your body’s way of reminding you to rest and take it easy. Afterpains (cramping) are the contractions of the uterus occurring in the days following childbirth. They are normal, but can be uncomfortable. Afterpains are usually strongest on the second and third days following delivery, when you are breastfeeding or after you take a uterus-contracting medication prescribed by your physician or midwife. Cramping is most noticeable after the birth of a second or third baby. Afterpains gradually decrease in intensity, but may last seven to ten days. To help ease afterpains, try the following:
Changes in Your Uterus
Laceration (Tear) or Episiotomy Occasionally, an episiotomy (a surgical incision that enlarges the vaginal opening) is performed to facilitate the birth of the baby. The amount of pain following an episiotomy or deep tear varies among individuals. It is caused by the swelling of the tissues surrounding the vagina as well as by the incision or deep tear. Swelling and discomfort usually peak on the second or third day after delivery, but it is difficult to predict how long the discomfort will persist. Some women experience little or no discomfort, while others experience dull, aching pain for some time. This is normal and eventually subsides. Helpful Hints for Care of the Perineum:
Cesarean Birth Helpful Hints
Hemorrhoids Treatment for Hemorrhoids
When assessing a mother 12 hours following the delivery of a baby where should the nurse expect to palpate the fundus?Within 12 hours, the fundus rises to the level of the umbilicus. The fundus should be firm. Immediately following delivery, the fundus will be felt halfway between the umbilicus and the symphysis.
When the nurse is assessing a postpartum client approximately?6 When the nurse is assessing a postpartum client approximately 6 hours after delivery, which finding would warrant further investigation? B) It varies, but you can estimate it returning in about 7 to 9 weeks.
Where should a client's uterine fundus be located 12 hours after delivery?The fundus is usually midway between the umbilicus and symphysis 1 to 2 hours after delivery, 1 cm above or at the level of the umbilicus 12 hours after delivery, and about 3 cm below the umbilicus by the third day after delivery.
When performing a postpartum assessment What should the nurse do quizlet?When performing a postpartum assessment, what should the nurse do? Assist the pt into a supine position w/ her arms above her head and her legs extended for the examination of her abdomen. The nurse helps the breastfeeding woman change her newborn's diaper after the baby's 1st bowel movement.
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