Question

Risk for infection related to vaginal bleeding nursing diagnosis

Answer 1

Pathophysiology

Postpartum hemorrhage is the excessive bleeding following delivery of a baby. For vaginal delivery, excessive bleeding would be more than 500ml and for cesarean delivery, more than 1000ml.  This may happen with vaginal or cesarean delivery and occurs in 1-5 out of 100 women. The hemorrhage may occur immediately after birth, or over several hours following delivery.

Etiology

Normally, the uterus continues to contract after the delivery of the baby and placenta. These contractions actually help close the vessels that supplied blood from the mother to the baby. When these contractions do not continue, or are not strong enough, hemorrhage occurs. Sometimes, a tear in the cervix, placenta or the blood vessels within the uterus may cause the hemorrhage.  Risk factors include obesity, multiple births (twins or more), many previous pregnancies, blood clotting disorders, infection, prolonged labor or use of assistive devices such as forceps or vacuum to delivery the baby.