SCF Level 3 exam 2 review
Q: What is bladder exstrophy? - A: Bladder & related structure are turned inside out through an
opening in the abdominal wall.
Q: How long is mom bradycardic after birth? - A: The first two wks post-partum
Q: How long is the true post-partum period? - A: May last between 9 & 12 months.
Q: What are the nursing goals for the mother during puerperium? - A: Prevent hemorrhage,
infection, & hypovolemic shock. Encourage bonding. Educate in self & infant care.
Q: Where is the fundus located in the first 12h post-partum? - A: The fundus is located at the
umbilicus.
Q: Where is the fundus located by 10 days post-partum? - A: It is in the true pelvis, so it is not
palpable.
Q: What is uterine involution? - A: The gradual process of the uterus returning to its normal size.
Q: What are the three retrogressive processes involved in involution? - A: Contraction of muscle
fibers to reduce those previously stretched during pregnancy, catabolism, & regeneration of uterine
epithelium.
Q: What does catabolism do during involution? - A: It shrinks the enlarged myometrial cells.
Q: Where does regeneration of the uterine epithelium occur during involution? - A: Occurs in the
lower layer of decidua after the upper layers have been sloughed off & shed in lochia.
Q: What are some factors that facilitate involution? - A: Complete expulsion of amniotic
membranes & placenta at birth, complicated-free labor & birth, breast feeding, early ambulation.
,Q: What are some factors that inhibit involution? - A: Prolonged labor & difficult birth, incomplete
expulsion of amniotic membranes & placenta, uterine infection, overdistention of uterine muscles, a full
bladder, anesthesia, close birth spacing.
Q: What are afterpains? - A: Immediately after birth, the uterus begins to contract constricting the
intramyometrial vessels.
Q: What is the primary mechanism to prevent post-partum hemorrhage? - A: Afterpains.
Q: When is puerperium? - A: Begins after delivery of placenta & lasts 6wks.
Q: What can inadequate uterine contractions lead to? - A: Uterine atony, which results in post-
partum hemorrhage.
Q: What population of patients have more acute afterpains? - A: Multiparous women & women
that are breastfeeding.
Q: When does blood volume drop after birth? - A: Blood volume drops rapidly after birth.
Q: When does blood volume return to normal? - A: 4wks post-partum.
Q: When does cardiac output return to prepregnant levels? - A: Within 6-8 wks.
Q: What happens to Hct after birth? - A: Remains stable & may rise r/t loss of plasma.
Q: What might a dramatic increase in Hct indicate? - A: Post-partum hemorrhage.
Q: What might an elevation in BP indicate? - A: Preeclampsia during early post-partum.
Q: What might tachycardia indicate in the post-partum period? - A: May indicate hemorrhage,
hypovolemia, or dehydration.
,Q: What happens to the mother's BP after birth? - A: It falls in the first 2 days, then increases 3-7
days after birth.
Q: What might an increase in BP accompanied by a h/a indicate? - A: Preeclampsia.
Q: What might a decreased BP indicate in a mother post-partum? - A: Infection or uterine
hemorrhage.
Q: How long are coagulation factors elevated after birth? - A: 2-3wks.
Q: What does the elevated coagulation factors after birth put mothers more at risk for? - A:
Thromboembolisms.
Q: What happens to mom's H&H levels after birth? - A: Decreases in the first 24h then rise over
2wks.
Q: What happens to the mom's WBC during labor? - A: Increases during labor.
Q: How long does mom's WBC stay elevated? - A: 4-6 days after birth.
Q: What happens to the mother's heart during pregnancy? - A: It is displaced slightly upward & to
the left.
Q: When does the mom's heart return to its normal position? - A: After the uterus undergoes
involution.
Q: What do women struggle w/ after birth if they receive an aesthetic block or oxytocin? - A: The
need to void.
, Q: What are some factors that can impede urination? - A: Perineal lacerations, generalized
swelling & bruising of perineum, hematomas, decreased bladder tone, diminished sensation of bladder
pressure
Q: Urinary retention & bladder distention can cause what? - A: Displacement of the uterus to the
right & inhibit the uterus from contracting properly.
Q: If the uterus cannot contract properly what is the mother more at risk for? - A: Post-partum
hemorrhage
Q: Frequent voiding of small amounts might indicate what? - A: Retention w/ overflow.
Q: What might be necessary if a mother has retention w/ overflow? - A: Catheterization.
Q: What can cause post-partum diuresis? - A: Large amounts of IVF, decrease antidiuretic effect of
oxytocin as it declines, buildup & retention of fluid, decreased production of aldosterone, the hormone
that decreases sodium retention and increase UOP
Q: When does diuresis occur after childbirth? - A: 12h & continues for the 1st week post-partum.
Q: Regardless of the type of delivery, what type of GI symptoms do women experience after childbirth? -
A: Sluggish bowel tone for several script.
Q: What can cause decreased peristalsis in women? - A: Analgesics, surgery, diminished intra-
abdominal pressure, low fiber diet, insufficient fluid intake, & diminished muscle tone.
Q: What affect does progesterone have on the GI system? - A: Diminished bowel tone.
Q: What does the decrease in relaxin & progesterone levels cause? - A: Hip & joint pain that
interferes w/ ambulation & exercise.
Q: What is bladder exstrophy? - A: Bladder & related structure are turned inside out through an
opening in the abdominal wall.
Q: How long is mom bradycardic after birth? - A: The first two wks post-partum
Q: How long is the true post-partum period? - A: May last between 9 & 12 months.
Q: What are the nursing goals for the mother during puerperium? - A: Prevent hemorrhage,
infection, & hypovolemic shock. Encourage bonding. Educate in self & infant care.
Q: Where is the fundus located in the first 12h post-partum? - A: The fundus is located at the
umbilicus.
Q: Where is the fundus located by 10 days post-partum? - A: It is in the true pelvis, so it is not
palpable.
Q: What is uterine involution? - A: The gradual process of the uterus returning to its normal size.
Q: What are the three retrogressive processes involved in involution? - A: Contraction of muscle
fibers to reduce those previously stretched during pregnancy, catabolism, & regeneration of uterine
epithelium.
Q: What does catabolism do during involution? - A: It shrinks the enlarged myometrial cells.
Q: Where does regeneration of the uterine epithelium occur during involution? - A: Occurs in the
lower layer of decidua after the upper layers have been sloughed off & shed in lochia.
Q: What are some factors that facilitate involution? - A: Complete expulsion of amniotic
membranes & placenta at birth, complicated-free labor & birth, breast feeding, early ambulation.
,Q: What are some factors that inhibit involution? - A: Prolonged labor & difficult birth, incomplete
expulsion of amniotic membranes & placenta, uterine infection, overdistention of uterine muscles, a full
bladder, anesthesia, close birth spacing.
Q: What are afterpains? - A: Immediately after birth, the uterus begins to contract constricting the
intramyometrial vessels.
Q: What is the primary mechanism to prevent post-partum hemorrhage? - A: Afterpains.
Q: When is puerperium? - A: Begins after delivery of placenta & lasts 6wks.
Q: What can inadequate uterine contractions lead to? - A: Uterine atony, which results in post-
partum hemorrhage.
Q: What population of patients have more acute afterpains? - A: Multiparous women & women
that are breastfeeding.
Q: When does blood volume drop after birth? - A: Blood volume drops rapidly after birth.
Q: When does blood volume return to normal? - A: 4wks post-partum.
Q: When does cardiac output return to prepregnant levels? - A: Within 6-8 wks.
Q: What happens to Hct after birth? - A: Remains stable & may rise r/t loss of plasma.
Q: What might a dramatic increase in Hct indicate? - A: Post-partum hemorrhage.
Q: What might an elevation in BP indicate? - A: Preeclampsia during early post-partum.
Q: What might tachycardia indicate in the post-partum period? - A: May indicate hemorrhage,
hypovolemia, or dehydration.
,Q: What happens to the mother's BP after birth? - A: It falls in the first 2 days, then increases 3-7
days after birth.
Q: What might an increase in BP accompanied by a h/a indicate? - A: Preeclampsia.
Q: What might a decreased BP indicate in a mother post-partum? - A: Infection or uterine
hemorrhage.
Q: How long are coagulation factors elevated after birth? - A: 2-3wks.
Q: What does the elevated coagulation factors after birth put mothers more at risk for? - A:
Thromboembolisms.
Q: What happens to mom's H&H levels after birth? - A: Decreases in the first 24h then rise over
2wks.
Q: What happens to the mom's WBC during labor? - A: Increases during labor.
Q: How long does mom's WBC stay elevated? - A: 4-6 days after birth.
Q: What happens to the mother's heart during pregnancy? - A: It is displaced slightly upward & to
the left.
Q: When does the mom's heart return to its normal position? - A: After the uterus undergoes
involution.
Q: What do women struggle w/ after birth if they receive an aesthetic block or oxytocin? - A: The
need to void.
, Q: What are some factors that can impede urination? - A: Perineal lacerations, generalized
swelling & bruising of perineum, hematomas, decreased bladder tone, diminished sensation of bladder
pressure
Q: Urinary retention & bladder distention can cause what? - A: Displacement of the uterus to the
right & inhibit the uterus from contracting properly.
Q: If the uterus cannot contract properly what is the mother more at risk for? - A: Post-partum
hemorrhage
Q: Frequent voiding of small amounts might indicate what? - A: Retention w/ overflow.
Q: What might be necessary if a mother has retention w/ overflow? - A: Catheterization.
Q: What can cause post-partum diuresis? - A: Large amounts of IVF, decrease antidiuretic effect of
oxytocin as it declines, buildup & retention of fluid, decreased production of aldosterone, the hormone
that decreases sodium retention and increase UOP
Q: When does diuresis occur after childbirth? - A: 12h & continues for the 1st week post-partum.
Q: Regardless of the type of delivery, what type of GI symptoms do women experience after childbirth? -
A: Sluggish bowel tone for several script.
Q: What can cause decreased peristalsis in women? - A: Analgesics, surgery, diminished intra-
abdominal pressure, low fiber diet, insufficient fluid intake, & diminished muscle tone.
Q: What affect does progesterone have on the GI system? - A: Diminished bowel tone.
Q: What does the decrease in relaxin & progesterone levels cause? - A: Hip & joint pain that
interferes w/ ambulation & exercise.
