Problem
You are caring for four women on the postpartum unit, two of whom had vaginal births and two have cesarean births. Each of the women has complained about feeling tired and has expressed concern about the amount of blood she lost during birth. Before providing patient education related to fatigue after birth and blood loss, you reviewed the nurses notes, the intake and output records and patient records for estimated blood loss and hemoglobin and hematocrit values.
I. Is there a sufficient evidence to draw conclusions about the relation between tiredness (fatigue)after birth and blood loss?
II. What assumptions can be made about the following factors?
i. Comparison of amount of blood loss between women who gave birth vaginally and by cesarean.
ii. Postpartum norms for hematocrit and hemoglobin for women who gave birth vaginally and by cesarean.
iii. causes of fatigue after birth
iv. Interventions to alleviate fatigue and replace blood lost at birth
III. What implication and priorities for nursing care can be drawn at this time?