Final answer:
The mother is assessed every 15 minutes in the first hour after delivery to monitor for physiological changes. Additionally, the Apgar score, assessing five criteria of newborn wellbeing, is taken at 1 and 5 minutes after birth, with scores of 8 or above considered normal.
Step-by-step explanation:
Following delivery, it is critical to assess the mother to identify physiological changes during the postpartum stage. For the first hour after birth, this assessment occurs at specific intervals. The correct answer is every 15 minutes. During this time, healthcare providers monitor vital signs, check for excessive bleeding, and observe the uterus's return to its non-pregnant size and firmness, along with other critical factors.
It's important to note in the context of newborn care that the Apgar score is a method used to assess the general wellbeing of the newborn, which includes criteria such as skin color, heart rate, reflex, muscle tone, and respiration to evaluate the infant's transition from the womb to the outside world. This score is taken at 1 minute and again at 5 minutes after birth. Scores of 8 or above are generally normal, but any score lower than 7 at the 5-minute mark may indicate the need for medical assistance.