Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 62%
Simulated
A postpartum nurse caring for a client who delivered vaginally 2 hours ago palpates the fundus and notes the character of the lochia. Which characteristic of the lochia should indicate to the nurse that the client's recovery is normal?
Correct answer
D
Rationale
When checking the perineum, the lochia is monitored for amount, color, and the presence of clots. The color of the lochia during the fourth stage of labor (the first 1 to 4 hours after birth) is dark red. Options 1, 2, and 3 are not the expected characteristics of lochia at this time period.