Which of the following findings should the nurse identify as manifestations of the newborn's suspected condition?

 

Choice A rationale

Bradycardia, or a heart rate below 60 beats per minute, is inconsistent with decreased cardiac output in this context. Tachycardia is a more typical compensatory response to significant blood loss postpartum.

Choice B rationale

A flushed face is not a physiological indicator of decreased cardiac output. Decreased cardiac output commonly leads to pallor and cool, clammy skin due to reduced peripheral perfusion.

Choice C rationale

Hypotension, defined as blood pressure below 90/60 mmHg, occurs due to reduced blood volume and cardiac output in excessive postpartum bleeding, impairing adequate perfusion to organs and tissues.

Choice D rationale

Polyuria, or excessive urination, does not directly indicate decreased cardiac output. Instead, oliguria or decreased urine output, often below 30 mL/hour, is a common sign of poor perfusion.

Choice A rationale

Elevating the client’s legs increases venous return, but it does not directly address the immediate cause of excessive bleeding, which is most often uterine atony.

Choice B rationale

Inserting a urinary catheter aids bladder emptying, which can support uterine contraction indirectly, but this is not the first action to control active bleeding.

Choice C rationale

Massaging the fundus promotes uterine contraction, which is the first-line intervention to control postpartum hemorrhage caused by uterine atony.

Choice D rationale

Oxytocin administration enhances uterine contractions, but manual fundal massage is typically performed first to assess and manage uterine atony immediately.