POSTPARTUM PERIOD

PUERPERIUM

Refers to the six-to-eight-week period after the birth of a baby in which the body recovers from the

changes caused by pregnancy and childbirth and returns to the near pre-pregnant state.

Taking-In Phase

The woman becomes dependent on her healthcare provider or support person with some of the

daily tasks and decision-making.

Taking Hold Phase

starts 2 to 4 days after delivery.

The woman starts to initiate actions on her own and making decisions without relying on others.

Letting Go Phase

This is the phase where postpartum depression may set in.

Involution

occurs more quickly in women who are well-nourished and ambulate early after birth.

Contraction

plays a very important role in the postpartum period for it allows the uterus to return

to its former size quickly and also prevents hemorrhage.

lochia rubra.

Lochia starts to appear as a bloody discharge for the first 3 days after birth and is termed as _______

Lochia serosa

or the brownish to pinkish discharge starts on the fourth day, and the amount of

blood and tissue decreases.

Lochia alba

appears on the tenth day and the discharge decreases and almost looks colorless or

whitish. It may last until the third week after birth.

prepregnant state.

The cervix is soft and malleable immediately after birth, but once the contraction of the cervix

takes place it also returns to its __________

vagina

returns to its prepregnant state through contractions after the entire postpartum

period but remains slightly distended than before.

the external os

has narrowed to the size of a pencil opening but appears slitlike or star-shaped compared to its round shape before childbirth occurred.

labia Minora and Majora

still atrophic and soft after birth and would never return to its prepregnant state.

Progestin, estrone, and estradiol

return to their prepregnancy levels a week after birth.

risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

relatively high as hypercoagulability increases during pregnancy and is maximal in the postpartum period, particularly for women with the Cesarian section with reduced mobility.

Anticoagulants

may be prescribed or physical methods such as compression are commonly indicated to decrease the risk of DVT.