Postpartum Care & Newborn Assessment Flashcards

A postpartum patient on day 3 reports a temperature of 38.4°C (101.1°F). Which source of fever is most common in the first 24 hours postpartum?

Answer: Physiologic milk fever

A low-grade temperature spike in the first 24 hours postpartum is often attributed to physiologic milk fever or normal inflammatory response, not infection.

Which clinical finding is most consistent with endometritis in a postpartum patient?

Answer: Uterine tenderness, fever, and foul-smelling lochia

Endometritis presents with uterine tenderness, fever, and malodorous lochia typically beginning 2–5 days postpartum.

A breastfeeding mother at 2 weeks postpartum reports a red, tender, wedge-shaped area on her breast with fever and flu-like symptoms. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Answer: Mastitis

Mastitis presents with a localized red, painful, wedge-shaped area, fever, and myalgias typically in the first few weeks postpartum.

What is the recommended first-line treatment for mastitis in a breastfeeding patient without abscess?

Answer: Continue breastfeeding, antibiotics (dicloxacillin or cephalexin), and warm compresses

First-line treatment for mastitis includes continued frequent breastfeeding to empty the breast, oral antibiotics covering Staphylococcus aureus, and warm compresses.

Which Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score threshold should prompt further clinical evaluation for postpartum depression?

Answer: ≥10

An EPDS score of ≥10 is the commonly used threshold to prompt further clinical assessment for postpartum depression.

A postpartum patient at 6 weeks reports persistent sadness, inability to bond with her infant, and passive suicidal ideation. What is the most appropriate immediate action?

Answer: Screen with EPDS and refer for urgent psychiatric evaluation

Passive suicidal ideation in a postpartum patient requires formal screening and urgent psychiatric referral to ensure patient safety.