Postpartum Assessment- Physiological Changes

• Changes will reverse to pre-pregnancy state

• The only thing that won’t reverse is lactation and breasts

o Breast and hormones related to lactation continue to change until production of

milk stops or is established

Uterine

• Involution of the Uterus

▪ Changes the uterus undergoes after childbirth to return to their

nonpregnant size and condition

o Shrinking of the uterus

▪ Includes fundal descent, afterpain, and lochia

• 3 processes

o Contraction of muscle fibers

▪ Controls bleeding from site of placental attachment

▪ Decreases size of uterus

o Catabolism

▪ Reduction in cell size (converting cells into simpler compounds)

▪ Byproducts are excreted in urine

o Regeneration of Uterine Epithelium

▪ Allows uterus to tighten and go back to normal shape

• Decidua (Inner layer)

o Sheds and creates lochia

• Basal Layer (Middle layer)

o Regenerates and becomes the new endometrial lining

• Endometrial Layer (Outer layer)

o Gets expelled with the placenta