Question

Where should the nurse expect the level of the fundus to be 2 hours after a normal vaginal delivery?

a) At the level of the umbilicus
b) 2 cm below the umbilicus
c) 2 finger-breadths above the umbilicus
d) 4 cm below the umbilicus

Answer 1

Two hours postpartum, the nurse should expect the fundus to be at the level of the umbilicus. This is a normal position for the uterus to begin its process of involution after childbirth.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should expect the level of the fundus to be at the level of the umbilicus 2 hours after a normal vaginal delivery. The fundus, which is the top of the uterus, rises to the level of the navel immediately after birth and then begins to decrease in size as the uterus contracts. Two hours postpartum, it should still be around the level of the umbilicus, although individual variations exist. By 24 hours postpartum, the fundus should be about 1-2 cm below the umbilicus, and it continues to descend into the pelvis over the next several weeks.