Question

The postpartum nurse is providing instructions to a client after delivery of a healthy newborn. Which time frame should the nurse relay to the client regarding the return of bowel function?

1. 3 days postpartum
2. 7 days postpartum
3. On the day of delivery
4. Within 2 weeks postpartum

Answer 1

The nurse should inform the client that bowel function typically returns within 2 weeks after delivery.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should relay to the client that the return of bowel function after delivery typically occurs within 2 weeks postpartum. After delivery, the mother experiences uterine contractions that help limit blood loss and facilitate the return of the uterus and abdominal organs to their pre-pregnancy state. The presence of a postpartum vaginal discharge called lochia is also normal, with different stages of lochia occurring during the first few weeks postpartum.