Question

A 25-year-old gravida 2, para 2-0-0-2 gave birth 4 hours ago to a 9-pound, 7-ounce boy after augmentation of labor with Pitocin. She puts on her call light and asks for her nurse right away, stating, I'm bleeding a lot. The most likely cause of postpartum hemorrhage in this woman is:

a. Retained placental fragments.
b. Unrepaired vaginal lacerations.
c. Uterine atony.
d. Puerperal infection.

Answer 1

Uterine atony is the most likely cause of postpartum hemorrhage in a woman who recently gave birth and was augmented with Pitocin.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most likely cause of postpartum hemorrhage in this woman, who is a 25-year-old gravida 2, para 2-0-0-2, is uterine atony. Uterine atony is a condition where the uterus fails to contract effectively after delivery, resulting in excessive bleeding. The administration of Pitocin, which is used to augment labor, can also sometimes contribute to uterine atony post-delivery. The uterus contracts for several hours after birth in a process called involution, which helps reduce blood loss and return the uterus to its pre-pregnancy size. Retained placental fragments can also cause postpartum hemorrhage, but this usually occurs if the placenta is not carefully examined after delivery to ensure it is intact. Unrepaired vaginal lacerations and puerperal infection are other causes, but they are less likely in this scenario.