Question

About the after-birth uterus, nurses should be aware that:

a. at the end of the third stage of labor, it weighs approximately 500 g.
b. after 2 weeks after birth, it should not be palpable abdominally.
c. after 2 weeks after birth, it weighs 100 g.
d. it returns to its original (prepregnancy) size by 6 weeks after birth.

Answer 1

The after-birth uterus, or postpartum uterus, returns to its original size by 6 weeks after birth through a process called involution.

Step-by-step explanation:

The after-birth uterus, also known as the postpartum uterus, goes through significant changes after childbirth. Nurses should be aware of these changes for proper postpartum care. Option d is correct - the uterus returns to its original (pre-pregnancy) size by 6 weeks after birth. During this time, the uterus undergoes a process called involution, where it contracts and shrinks back to its pre-pregnancy size.