MCN EXAM 2 2026 POSTPARTUM
COMPLICATIONS HEMORRHAGE
INFECTION AND MATERNAL RECOVERY
CARE NOTES
◉ Lochia serosa (pink/brown)
Answer: Lochia _____ is blood, mucus, and invading leukocytes and
starts in postpartum days 3-10.
◉ Lochia Alba (white to yellow-white)
Answer: Lochia ______ is non-odorous, mucus-like, with high
leukocyte counts and starts in postpartum days 10-14 days (can last
6 weeks.)
◉ •The greatest risk in postpartum stage is *hemorrhage, shock, and
infection*
Answer: The greatest risks to a postpartum mom
◉ Oxytoxics
,Answer: ___________ medications can be given to help promote
contraction of the uterus thus decreasing bleeding and chances of
hemorrhage
◉ *afterpains*
▪ breastfeeding increases the afterpains as oxytocin is released with
nipple stimulation.
Answer: ________are the contractions pains that help with involution
of the uterus (similar to menstrual cramps.)
▪ they can be much more painful for multiparas women and those
with an over distended uterus (polyhydramnios, multiple gestations,
macrosomic infant, etc.).
▪ they are usually not as bad after the first few days.
◉ ▪ Lochia amount varies greatly from woman to woman.
▪ Mothers who breastfeed tend to have less lochial discharge than
those who do not because the natural release of the hormone
oxytocin during breastfeeding strengthens uterine contractions.
▪ Lochial flow increases on exertion, especially the first few times a
woman is out of bed but decreases again with rest.
▪ Saturating a perineal pad in less than 1 hour is considered an
abnormally heavy flow and should be reported.
,▪ Don't use tampons to halt the flow or this could lead to infection.
Answer: Lochia Evaluation - *Amount*
◉ ▪ Lochia should contain no exceedingly large clots as these may
indicate a portion of the placenta has been retained and is
preventing closure of the maternal uterine blood sinuses.
▪ In any event, large clots denote poor uterine contraction, which
needs to be corrected.
Answer: Lochia Evaluation - *Consistency*
◉ ▪ Lochia is red for the first 1 to 3 days (lochia rubra), pinkish-
brown from days 4 to 10 (lochia serosa), and then white (lochia
alba) for as long as 6 weeks after birth.
▪ The pattern of lochia (rubra to serosa to alba) should not reverse
as this suggests a placental fragment has been retained or uterine
contraction is decreasing and new bleeding is beginning.
Answer: Lochia Evaluation - *Pattern*
◉ ▪ Lochia should not have an offensive odor as this suggests the
uterus has become infected.
▪ Immediate intervention is needed to halt postpartal infection.
Answer: Lochia Evaluation - *Odor*
, ◉ ▪ Lochia should never be absent during the first 1 to 3 weeks as
absence of lochia, like presence of an offensive odor, may indicate
postpartal infection.
▪ Lochia may be scant in amount after cesarean delivery, but it is
never altogether absent.
Answer: Lochia Evaluation - *Absence*
◉ •Scant - less than 2.5cm
•Light - less than 10cm
•Moderate - more than 10cm
•Heavy - one pad saturated within 2 hours
•Excessive - one pad saturated in 15mins or less
Answer: Name the 5 types of lochia amounts and their
measurements
◉ *It decreases by one fingerbreadth, or 1 cm, per day*
▪ Right after birth it's at the umbilicus
▪ For example, on the first postpartal day, it will be palpable 1 cm
below the umbilicus.
▪ In the average woman, by the ninth or tenth day, the uterus will
have contracted so much that it is withdrawn into the pelvis and can
no longer be detected by abdominal palpation
Answer: Postpartum: *Fundal Height Changes*
COMPLICATIONS HEMORRHAGE
INFECTION AND MATERNAL RECOVERY
CARE NOTES
◉ Lochia serosa (pink/brown)
Answer: Lochia _____ is blood, mucus, and invading leukocytes and
starts in postpartum days 3-10.
◉ Lochia Alba (white to yellow-white)
Answer: Lochia ______ is non-odorous, mucus-like, with high
leukocyte counts and starts in postpartum days 10-14 days (can last
6 weeks.)
◉ •The greatest risk in postpartum stage is *hemorrhage, shock, and
infection*
Answer: The greatest risks to a postpartum mom
◉ Oxytoxics
,Answer: ___________ medications can be given to help promote
contraction of the uterus thus decreasing bleeding and chances of
hemorrhage
◉ *afterpains*
▪ breastfeeding increases the afterpains as oxytocin is released with
nipple stimulation.
Answer: ________are the contractions pains that help with involution
of the uterus (similar to menstrual cramps.)
▪ they can be much more painful for multiparas women and those
with an over distended uterus (polyhydramnios, multiple gestations,
macrosomic infant, etc.).
▪ they are usually not as bad after the first few days.
◉ ▪ Lochia amount varies greatly from woman to woman.
▪ Mothers who breastfeed tend to have less lochial discharge than
those who do not because the natural release of the hormone
oxytocin during breastfeeding strengthens uterine contractions.
▪ Lochial flow increases on exertion, especially the first few times a
woman is out of bed but decreases again with rest.
▪ Saturating a perineal pad in less than 1 hour is considered an
abnormally heavy flow and should be reported.
,▪ Don't use tampons to halt the flow or this could lead to infection.
Answer: Lochia Evaluation - *Amount*
◉ ▪ Lochia should contain no exceedingly large clots as these may
indicate a portion of the placenta has been retained and is
preventing closure of the maternal uterine blood sinuses.
▪ In any event, large clots denote poor uterine contraction, which
needs to be corrected.
Answer: Lochia Evaluation - *Consistency*
◉ ▪ Lochia is red for the first 1 to 3 days (lochia rubra), pinkish-
brown from days 4 to 10 (lochia serosa), and then white (lochia
alba) for as long as 6 weeks after birth.
▪ The pattern of lochia (rubra to serosa to alba) should not reverse
as this suggests a placental fragment has been retained or uterine
contraction is decreasing and new bleeding is beginning.
Answer: Lochia Evaluation - *Pattern*
◉ ▪ Lochia should not have an offensive odor as this suggests the
uterus has become infected.
▪ Immediate intervention is needed to halt postpartal infection.
Answer: Lochia Evaluation - *Odor*
, ◉ ▪ Lochia should never be absent during the first 1 to 3 weeks as
absence of lochia, like presence of an offensive odor, may indicate
postpartal infection.
▪ Lochia may be scant in amount after cesarean delivery, but it is
never altogether absent.
Answer: Lochia Evaluation - *Absence*
◉ •Scant - less than 2.5cm
•Light - less than 10cm
•Moderate - more than 10cm
•Heavy - one pad saturated within 2 hours
•Excessive - one pad saturated in 15mins or less
Answer: Name the 5 types of lochia amounts and their
measurements
◉ *It decreases by one fingerbreadth, or 1 cm, per day*
▪ Right after birth it's at the umbilicus
▪ For example, on the first postpartal day, it will be palpable 1 cm
below the umbilicus.
▪ In the average woman, by the ninth or tenth day, the uterus will
have contracted so much that it is withdrawn into the pelvis and can
no longer be detected by abdominal palpation
Answer: Postpartum: *Fundal Height Changes*
