©THEBRIGHT EXAM STUDY SOLUTIONS 8/21/2024 8:36 PM
Chapter 18: Postpartum Physiologic Changes
Perry: Maternal Child Nursing Care. Exam
Questions With Correct
Answers
1. A woman gave birth to an infant boy 10 hours ago. Where would the nurse expect to locate
this woman's fundus?
a. One centimeter above the umbilicus
b. Two centimeters below the umbilicus
c. Midway between the umbilicus and the symphysis pubis
d. Nonpalpable abdominally - answer✔✔ANS: A
Within 12 hours after delivery the fundus may be approximately 1 cm above the umbilicus. The
fundus descends about 1 to 2 cm every 24 hours. Within 12 hours after delivery the fundus may
be approximately 1 cm above the umbilicus. By the sixth after birth week the fundus normally is
halfway between the symphysis pubis and the umbilicus. The fundus should be easily palpated
using the maternal umbilicus as a reference point.
2. Which woman is most likely to experience strong afterpains?
a. A woman who experienced oligohydramnios
b. A woman who is a gravida 4, para 4-0-0-4
c. A woman who is bottle-feeding her infant
d. A woman whose infant weighed 5 lbs, 3 ounces - answer✔✔ANS: B
Afterpains are more common in multiparous women. Afterpains are more noticeable with births
in which the uterus was greatly distended, as in a woman who experienced polyhydramnios or a
woman who delivered a large infant. Breastfeeding may cause afterpains to intensify.
, ©THEBRIGHT EXAM STUDY SOLUTIONS 8/21/2024 8:36 PM
3. A woman gave birth to a healthy infant boy 5 days ago. What type of lochia would the nurse
expect to find when assessing this woman?
a. Lochia rubra
b. Lochia sangra
c. Lochia alba
d. Lochia serosa - answer✔✔ANS: D
Lochia serosa, which consists of blood, serum, leukocytes, and tissue debris, generally occurs
around day 3 or 4 after childbirth. Lochia rubra consists of blood and decidual and trophoblastic
debris. The flow generally lasts 3 to 4 days and pales, becoming pink or brown. There is no such
term as lochia sangra. Lochia alba occurs in most women after day 10 and can continue up to 6
weeks after childbirth.
4. Which hormone remains elevated in the immediate after birth period of the breastfeeding
woman?
a. Estrogen
b. Progesterone
c. Prolactin
d. Human placental lactogen - answer✔✔ANS: C
Prolactin levels in the blood increase progressively throughout pregnancy. In women who
breastfeed, prolactin levels remain elevated into the sixth week after birth. Estrogen and
progesterone levels decrease markedly after expulsion of the placenta and reach their lowest
levels 1 week into the after birth period. Human placental lactogen levels decrease dramatically
after expulsion of the placenta.
5. Two days ago a woman gave birth to a full-term infant. Last night she awakened several times
to urinate and noted that her gown and bedding were wet from profuse diaphoresis. One
mechanism for the diaphoresis and diuresis that this woman is experiencing during the early after
birth period is:
a. elevated temperature caused by after birth infection.
b. increased basal metabolic rate after giving birth.
c. loss of increased blood volume associated with pregnancy.
d. increased venous pressure in the lower extremities. - answer✔✔ANS: C
Within 12 hours of birth women begin to lose the excess tissue fluid that has accumulated during
pregnancy. One mechanism for reducing these retained fluids is the profuse diaphoresis that
Chapter 18: Postpartum Physiologic Changes
Perry: Maternal Child Nursing Care. Exam
Questions With Correct
Answers
1. A woman gave birth to an infant boy 10 hours ago. Where would the nurse expect to locate
this woman's fundus?
a. One centimeter above the umbilicus
b. Two centimeters below the umbilicus
c. Midway between the umbilicus and the symphysis pubis
d. Nonpalpable abdominally - answer✔✔ANS: A
Within 12 hours after delivery the fundus may be approximately 1 cm above the umbilicus. The
fundus descends about 1 to 2 cm every 24 hours. Within 12 hours after delivery the fundus may
be approximately 1 cm above the umbilicus. By the sixth after birth week the fundus normally is
halfway between the symphysis pubis and the umbilicus. The fundus should be easily palpated
using the maternal umbilicus as a reference point.
2. Which woman is most likely to experience strong afterpains?
a. A woman who experienced oligohydramnios
b. A woman who is a gravida 4, para 4-0-0-4
c. A woman who is bottle-feeding her infant
d. A woman whose infant weighed 5 lbs, 3 ounces - answer✔✔ANS: B
Afterpains are more common in multiparous women. Afterpains are more noticeable with births
in which the uterus was greatly distended, as in a woman who experienced polyhydramnios or a
woman who delivered a large infant. Breastfeeding may cause afterpains to intensify.
, ©THEBRIGHT EXAM STUDY SOLUTIONS 8/21/2024 8:36 PM
3. A woman gave birth to a healthy infant boy 5 days ago. What type of lochia would the nurse
expect to find when assessing this woman?
a. Lochia rubra
b. Lochia sangra
c. Lochia alba
d. Lochia serosa - answer✔✔ANS: D
Lochia serosa, which consists of blood, serum, leukocytes, and tissue debris, generally occurs
around day 3 or 4 after childbirth. Lochia rubra consists of blood and decidual and trophoblastic
debris. The flow generally lasts 3 to 4 days and pales, becoming pink or brown. There is no such
term as lochia sangra. Lochia alba occurs in most women after day 10 and can continue up to 6
weeks after childbirth.
4. Which hormone remains elevated in the immediate after birth period of the breastfeeding
woman?
a. Estrogen
b. Progesterone
c. Prolactin
d. Human placental lactogen - answer✔✔ANS: C
Prolactin levels in the blood increase progressively throughout pregnancy. In women who
breastfeed, prolactin levels remain elevated into the sixth week after birth. Estrogen and
progesterone levels decrease markedly after expulsion of the placenta and reach their lowest
levels 1 week into the after birth period. Human placental lactogen levels decrease dramatically
after expulsion of the placenta.
5. Two days ago a woman gave birth to a full-term infant. Last night she awakened several times
to urinate and noted that her gown and bedding were wet from profuse diaphoresis. One
mechanism for the diaphoresis and diuresis that this woman is experiencing during the early after
birth period is:
a. elevated temperature caused by after birth infection.
b. increased basal metabolic rate after giving birth.
c. loss of increased blood volume associated with pregnancy.
d. increased venous pressure in the lower extremities. - answer✔✔ANS: C
Within 12 hours of birth women begin to lose the excess tissue fluid that has accumulated during
pregnancy. One mechanism for reducing these retained fluids is the profuse diaphoresis that
