Help with an assesment of new mother and baby

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So I'm going back to labor and delivery rotation for my last and final semester and it seemed that I have forgotten the basics of a mother and a baby.Does anyone know a quick way to remember how to assess a postpartum mother and a baby...like I know you have to check her lungs,next I think it is breast (but I forgot what the breast should be like?),next I think is fundus of the uterus (I forgot how it is suppose to be),then I thinkthe bladder?? (what should I look for??),and then the Homan's sign I think??? Then the baby,I think check their pulse,respiration,temp???Thanks..

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Specializes in Mother/Baby and LDR.

Your on the right path, don't second guess yourself.

Head to toe and bottom... Fundus height should be under the belly button, don't forget to support the uterus when you do this check. Breast I think you are just assesing for pain, tenderness and make sure they are not hard or warm(fever) I love L& D didn't care to much for post partum.

GOOD LUCK enjoy your clinical. I love clinicals.

Tina:p

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Your on the right path, don't second guess yourself.

Head to toe and bottom... Fundus height should be under the belly button, don't forget to support the uterus when you do this check. Breast I think you are just assesing for pain, tenderness and make sure they are not hard or warm(fever) I love L& D didn't care to much for post partum.

GOOD LUCK enjoy your clinical. I love clinicals.

Tina:p

Thanks for your help,so in other words the breast should feel soft and if it is tender and firm it might be a sign of engorgement or possibly mastitis..and what about the bladder,should I just ask the mother if she has voided since giving birth and I think you suppose to check the lady parts for the swelling,pain,lochia,possibly hemmorage..I loved my previous L&D rotation and also didnt care too much for the postpartum however I think it is a interesting unit as well..so much to learn and teach..

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

look on the health assessment resources, techniques, and forms sticky in nursing student assistance forum (https://allnurses.com/nursing-student-assistance/health-assessment-resources-145091.html). if i'm not mistaken there are still some active mother/baby assessment weblinks there.

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