Maternal Vital Signs - Postpartum

normal postpartum temperature range

97.2-100.4

temperature of 100.4 in first 24 hours

possibly dehydration; not a major concern, just rule out infection

after 24 hours

should be afebrile

temperature of 100.4 within the first 10 days postpartum on 2 separate occasions

infection

puerperal sepsis

temperature of at least 100.4 after the first 24 hours persisting longer than 2 days

shivering

normal

postpartum pulse range

50-90

first hour

increased

over the next 48 hours

decreases gradually

orthostatic hypotension

often takes place in first 48 hours postpartum (maybe)

puerperal bradycardia

40-50 bpm

stroke volume and cardiac output

follows same pattern as pulse does

rapid or increasing pulse

hemorrhage

respirations

12-20

respirations during pregnancy

unchanged or slight increase

respirations postpartum

back to normal right away to prepregnancy rate

blood pressure

5% increase in first few days postpartum

gradual decrease back to prepregnancy levels over next few weeks/months

preeclampsia

BP 140/90 or above on 2 separate occasions 4-6 hours apart; w/ proteinuria

gestational hypertension

BP 140/90 or above on 2 separate occasions 4-6 hours apart; w/o proteinuria

excessive use of uterotonic medication

increased BP

hemorrhage

decreased BP (late sign)