The document discusses minor discomforts and complications that can occur during the postpartum period known as the pueperium. It defines pueperium as the 6-week period following childbirth where the body reverts to its pre-pregnant state. Common minor discomforts include afterpains, perineal pain, breast engorgement, increased urination, and constipation. Potential complications include postpartum hemorrhage, puerperal pyrexia (fever), puerperal sepsis (infection), urinary tract infections, and subinvolution where the uterus does not return to normal size. The document provides information on causes, signs, symptoms, and management of these minor discomforts

1. P R E S E N T E D B Y
S R I S H T I M A S S E Y
M S C ( N ) I S T Y E A R
E R A C O L L E G E O F N U R S I N G
Minor Discomforts And
Complication Of Pueperium

2. Introduction
 Following the birth of the baby and
expulsion of the placenta, the mother enters
a period of physical and psychological
recuperation, and this period is called
pueperium , starts immediately after the
delivery of the placenta and membranes and
continues for 6 weeks.

3. Definition
 Pueperium is the period following
childbirth during which the body
tissues , specially the pelvic organs
revert back approximately to the pre-
pregnant state both anatomically and
physiologically
-D C Dutta

4. Minor Discomforts Of Pueperium And Its Relief
After pains
Pain on the
perineum
Breast
engorgement
Postnatal
diuresis
Constipation
Lactation
suppression

5. After pains
 It is the spasmodic, intermittent pain felt in the
back and lower abdomen after delivery for a
variable period of 2-4 days.
 Presence of blood clots or bits after the birth leads
to spasmodic hypertonic contraction contraction of
the uterus in an attempt to expel them out.

6. Management
Massage the uterus with
expulsion of the clot
Administer analgesics
and antispasmodics

7. Pain in peineum
Some degree of the pain
is felt in the stiches.
Abnormal pain should be
investigated to diagnose
vulvo-vaginal hematoma
or infection id developing

8. Management
• After using
the
bathrrom,
spray or
pour warm
water over
the entire
vaginal
area.
• Encourage mother
to pat the area dry,
making sure to
start at the front
and end at the
back to avoid
spreading germs
from the rectum to
vagina

9. Apply ice
packs
Sitz bath
Care of
perineal
stiches

10. Breast Engorgement
 May occur about the third day postpartum and is
often regarded by mothers as the result of the milk
coming in.
 The mother approaches with pain and tense feeling
of the breasts, generalised malaise and painful
breastfeeding

11. Management
 Encourage the mother to consume lots of
fluids.
 Support the breast with binder or brassiere.
 Express the milk manually.
 The baby should be put to breast regularly
after the expression of milk.
 Analgesics may also be prescribed to relieve
pain.

12. Postnatal diuresis
 Within 12 hours of the birth the women
begins to loose excess tissue fluid
accumulated during pregnancy.
 The profuse diaphoresis occurs especially at
night for the first 2-3 days after childbirth.

13. Management
Keep the mother clean and dry
Change the dress frequently
Change the bed sheet
Keep the mother well hydrated

14. Constipation
 The problem is much less because of early
ambulation and liberalisation of dietary intake.
 Encourage the mother to take a diet containing
sufficient amount of roughage and fluids is enough
to move the bowel.
 If necessary mild laxative such as Igol 2 tea spoons
may be advised at bed time.

15. Complication of the pueperium
Heamorrhage
 Post partum heamorrgae is defined as
excessive blood loss during or after the third
stage of labour.
 The average blood loss is 500 ml at vaginal
delivery and 1000 ml at cesarean delivery.

16.  Early postpartum hemorrhage
 Is described as that occuring within the first 24
hours.
 Late postpartum hemorrahage
 Most frequently occurs 1-2 weeks after delivery but
may occur upto 6 weeks of postpartum.

17. Etiology
 Uterine atony
 Retained products of conception
 Uterine rupture
 Uterine inversion
 Placenta accreta
 Infection
 Subinvolution .

18. Diagnosis
 History collection
 Physical examination
 Cbc count
 Prothrombin test
 Activated partial thromboplastin time
(PT/aPTT).

19. Treatment
 O2 administration
 Bimanual massage
 Removal of blood clots from the utreus
 Empty the bladder
 Carboprost , IM , 0.25mg, every 15 minutes, not
exceeds 3 doses.
 Misoprostol for the treatment of post partum
hemorrahge.

20. Surgical Management
 When the conservative therapy fails, surgery is done
either bilateral uterine artery ligation or hypogastric
artery ligation.
 Uterine artery ligation is thought to be successful in
80-95% of patients.
 It this fails , hypogastric artery ligation is an option.

21. Pueperal Pyrexia
 Definition
 A rise of temperature reaching 100
degree measured orally within first 10
days following delivery is called
pueperal pyrexia

22. Causes
 Pueperal sepsis
 Urinary tract infection
 Mastitis
 Infection of caesarean section wound.
 Pulomary infection
 Septic pelvic thrombophlebitis
 Unknown origin.

23. Pueperal Sepsis
An infection of the genital tract
which occurs as a complication of
delivery is termed as pueperal
sepsis.

24. Risk factors
 Chronic debilitating disease.
 Poor standards of hygiene
 Pre- term labour.
 Poor aseptic techniques.
 Presence of dead tissue
 Retained fragements.
 Frequent vaginal examination.
 Prolonged or obstructed labour.

25. Mode of infection
 Essentially a wound infection.
 Placental site, lacerations of the genital
tract or caesarean section wounds may
be infected in the following ways

26. Sources Of Infection
Endogenous Exogenous Autogenous

27. Clinical Features
Local
infection
Uterine
infections
Spreading
infections

28. Investigation
 History collection
 Physical examination
 Assess the severity of the disease
 High vaginal $ Endocervical swabs for culture and
senstivity.
 “CLEAN CATCH” mid stream specimen of urine for
analysis for culture and senstivity.
 Cbc count, BUN , Serum creatinine.

29. Management
Preventive
Curative

30. Surgical Treatment
Perineal
wound
Hysterectomy

31. Subinvolution
 Subinvolution is a medical condition in which after
childbirth , the uterus does not returnto its normal
size.
 The uterus is the most common organ affected by
subinvolution, as it is the most accessible organ to
be measured per abdomen.

32. Causes
 Grand multiparity
 Overdistention in case of twins
 Maternal ill health
 Prolapse of the uterus
 Caesarean section
 Uterine fibroids.
 Long labour
 Retained placenta

33. Symptoms
Asymptomatic
Abnormal
lochial
discharge
Excessive
bleeding
Irregular
cramps
Rise in
temperature

34. Signs
Uterine
height is
greater.
Pueperal
uterus is
displaced
Feels
boggy and
softer

35. Management
 Adminster antibiotics
 Exploration of the uterus in retained
products
 Ergometrine so often prescribed to enhance
the involution process by reducing the blood
flow of the uterus is of no value in
prophylaxis.

39. Bibliography
 D C Dutta(2004) “ textbook of obstetrics”, 6th edition
, India, New Central book agency, Page No 433- 444.
 Myles(2003) “ textbook for midwives”, 14th edition,
Philadelphia, Churchill Livingstone publishers, Page
No 625- 653.
 www.healthline.com.