Final answer:
Within the first 24 hours after birth, expected assessments include checking that the fundus of the uterus is firm and in the midline of the abdomen, but a scant amount of lochia alba is not expected until at least one week postpartum. Bradycardia in newborns or mothers is also not an expected finding and would require attention.
Step-by-step explanation:
After the birth of a child, healthcare providers perform several important assessments within the first 24 hours to ensure newborn babies and their mothers are healthy and recovering as expected. Among the expected assessments, the presence of a scant amount of lochia alba on the perineal pad is not one of them, since lochia alba typically appears after the first week postpartum, following lochia rubra and lochia serosa. However, finding the fundus firm and in the midline of the abdomen is expected as uterine contractions help the uterus to return to its pre-pregnancy size through a process called involution. Breasts becoming distended and hard with flat nipples may indicate lactation issues such as engorgement, which generally would not be expected within 24 hours of birth but can develop in the following days. Lastly, bradycardia is not a typical finding in newborns or postpartum women; in the immediate newborn period, a heart rate below 100 beats per minute would be a concerning sign.