Lochia Rubra (red) - Lochia _______ is mostly blood, fragments of decidua, and mucus and starts in postpartum days 1-3
Lochia serosa (pink/brown) -
... [Show More] Lochia _____ is blood, mucus, and invading leukocytes and starts in postpartum days 3-10.
Lochia Alba (white to yellow-white) - 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* - The greatest risks to a postpartum mom
Oxytoxics - ___________ 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. - ________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. - 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. - 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. - 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. - 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. - 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 - Name the 5 types of lochia amounts and their measurements
*It decreases by one fingerbreadth, or 1 cm, per day* [Show Less]