Question

The nurse is monitoring a postpartum client in the fourth stage of labor. Which finding, if noted by the nurse, indicates a complication related to a laceration of the birth canal?

A. Increased urinary output
B. Decreased lochia flow
C. Hypertension
D. Increased heart rate

Answer 1

An increased heart rate in a postpartum client during the fourth stage of labor could indicate a complication such as a laceration of the birth canal, which might lead to serious conditions like hemorrhage or shock.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a nurse is monitoring a postpartum client in the fourth stage of labor and notes an increased heart rate, this may indicate a complication such as a laceration of the birth canal. The fourth stage of labor involves the first few hours after delivery, where the focus is on the mother's recovery and observation for any immediate postpartum complications. An increased heart rate can be a sign of hemorrhage or shock, which could occur due to a laceration that causes significant blood loss. Other signs that would suggest a complication from a laceration could include a drop in blood pressure, increased lochia flow (specifically lochia rubra beyond the expected 2-3 days following delivery), or an uneven or 'boggy' feeling uterus upon palpation. These findings would require prompt medical intervention.