Maternity Nursing Q 174
The nurse should anticipate that hemorrhage related to uterine atony may occur postnatally if this condition was present during the delivery:
A. Excessive analgesia was given to the mother.
B. Placental delivery occurred within thirty minutes after the baby was born.
C. An episiotomy had to be done to facilitate delivery of the head.
D. The labor and delivery lasted for 12 hours.
Correct Answer: A. Excessive analgesia was given to the mother.
Excessive analgesia can lead to uterine relaxation thus lead to hemorrhage postpartally. Both B and D are normal and C is at the vaginal introitus thus will not affect the uterus.
Option B: The absolute time limit for delivery of the placenta, without evidence of significant bleeding, remains unclear. Periods ranging from 30-60 minutes have been suggested.
Option C: An episiotomy is a minor incision made during childbirth to widen the opening of the vagina. A perineal tear or laceration often forms on its own during a vaginal birth. Rarely, this tear will also involve the muscle around the anus or the rectum. Both episiotomies and perineal lacerations require stitches to repair and ensure the best healing. Both are similar in recovery time and discomfort during healing.
Option D: Normal labor usually begins within 2 weeks (before or after) the estimated delivery date. In a first pregnancy, labor usually lasts 12 to 18 hours on average; subsequent labors are often shorter, averaging 6 to 8 hours.