Two days ago, a woman gave birth to a full-term infant. Last night she awakened several times to urinate and noted that her gown and bedding were wet from profuse diaphoresis

Question

One mechanism for the diaphoresis and diuresis that this woman is experiencing during the early postpartum period is: 1. increased temperature caused by postpartum infection.
2. increased basal metabolic rate after giving birth.
3. loss of increased blood volume associated with pregnancy.
4. increased venous pressure in the lower extremities.

Answer 1

3
1. Incorrect. Increased temperature would cause chills and may cause dehydration, not dia-phoresis and diuresis.
2. Incorrect. Diaphoresis and diuresis are sometimes referred to as reversal of water meta-bolism of pregnancy, not basal metabolic rate.
3. Correct. Within 12 hours of birth, women begin to lose the excess tissue fluid that has accumulated during pregnancy. One mechanism responsible for reducing these retained fluids is the profuse diaphoresis that often occurs, especially at night, for the first 2 or 3 days after childbirth. Postpartal diuresis is another mechanism by which the body rids itself of excess fluid.
4. Incorrect. Postpartal diuresis may be caused by the removal of increased venous pressure in the lower extremities.