A nurse on a postpartum unit is caring for a client. Exhibits For each finding, click to specify if the finding is consistent with uterine atony or infection. Each finding may support more than 1 disease process or none at all. There must be at least 1 selection in every column. There does not need to be a selection in every row.

Prenatal anemia: Decreases the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, impairing tissue oxygenation and immune response. This weakened immune status makes the client more vulnerable to infections during the postpartum period and delays healing. High parity: Increases the risk of uterine atony because repeated pregnancies and deliveries cause stretching and weakening of the uterine muscle. This reduces the uterus’s ability to contract effectively after birth, increasing the risk of postpartum hemorrhage. Polyhydramnios; Leads to overdistension of the uterus during pregnancy, which can impair uterine muscle tone and its ability to contract properly after delivery. This overdistension is a common cause of uterine atony and related postpartum bleeding. Prolonged rupture of membranes: Allows bacteria from the vagina to ascend into the uterus over time, significantly increasing the risk of infection such as chorioamnionitis or postpartum endometritis. The longer the membranes are ruptured before delivery, the greater the infection risk.