Final answer:
The fundus should be midway between the umbilicus and symphysis pubis 6 days postpartum. This position indicates the uterus is shrinking back to its pre-pregnancy size through a natural process called involution. Incorrect positioning could signal postpartum complications.
Step-by-step explanation:
The fundus should be located mid-way between the umbilicus and the symphysis pubis 6 days postpartum. Immediately after childbirth, the fundus of the uterus is typically at the level of the umbilicus. Within 6-12 hours postpartum, it rises to a level approximately 1 cm above the umbilicus. Thereafter, the fundus descends by about 1-2 cm (approximately one finger's breadth) every day, through the process of uterine involution. By the 6th postpartum day, it should have descended to the midway point between the umbilicus and the pelvic bone.
Involution of the uterus is a process that is facilitated by uterine contractions, which not only limit blood loss post-birth but help the uterus return to its pre-pregnancy size. Breastfeeding can also promote the process of involution due to the release of oxytocin, which stimulates contractions. If the fundus is not at the expected level, it could indicate postpartum complications such as subinvolution or retained placental fragments, which may lead to postpartum hemorrhage.