When caring for a postpartum client the nurse notes that the client's perineal pad is saturated with bright red blood. What is the priority question to ask the client?

A. Asking when the last pad change occurred helps determine the rate of bleeding, which is crucial for assessing postpartum hemorrhage. Heavy bleeding within an hour or less may indicate excessive blood loss and require urgent intervention. B. Incorrect → Urinary retention can contribute to postpartum bleeding, but the immediate concern is quantifying the blood loss. C. Incorrect → Cramping (afterpains) is common postpartum but does not provide immediate information about hemorrhage severity. D. Incorrect → Passing clots may be concerning, but the priority is assessing overall blood loss.