The nurse is assessing a postpartum client and notes the peri-pad has whitish-yellow discharge. The nurse would correctly document this vaginal discharge as which of the following?

Question

1. Postpartal bleeding
2. Lochia rubra
3. Lochia serosa
4. Lochia alba

Answer 1

4
Rationale 1: To refer to the discharge simply as postpartal bleeding does not provide an adequate description.
Rationale 2: The uterine lining, or endometrium, returns to the nonpregnant state through the process of a postpartum vaginal discharge called lochia. The initial lochia rubra contains blood from the placental site, amniotic membrane, cells from the decidua basalis, vernix and lanugo from the infant's skin, and meconium. It is dark red and has a fleshy odor, and lasts anywhere from 2 days to 18 days.
Rationale 3: The uterine lining, or endometrium, returns to the nonpregnant state through the process of a postpartum vaginal discharge called lochia. Once the lochia rubra has subsided the discharge becomes pinkish and is called lochia serosa. It is composed of blood, placental site exudates, erythrocytes, leukocytes, cervical mucus, microorganisms, and decidua, and lasts approximately a week.
Rationale 4: The uterine lining, or endometrium, returns to the nonpregnant state through the process of a postpartum vaginal discharge called lochia. In the final stages the discharge becomes whitish-yellow, lochia alba, and is composed of leukocytes, mucus, bacteria, epithelial cells, and decidua.