The postpartum nurse is providing care to a woman 2 hours after birth and to her newborn. On review of the newborn's chart, the nurse sees a notation of caput succedaneum. What will the nurse expect to find in the mother's chart?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A caput succedaneum is an area of localized edema that appears over the vertex of the newborn's head as a result of pressure against the mother's cervix during labor. The pressure interferes with blood flow from the area, causing localized edema at birth. The edematous area crosses suture lines, is soft, and varies in size. The longer the labor, the more pronounced the caput. Mongolian spots are associated with infants born to non-white parents. An epidural may be a contributing factor to a prolonged labor, but it is the pressure of the head against the cervix that gives rise to the caput. If labor is prolonged without descent of the head, a cesarean section may follow but is not the cause of the caput.

The Postpartum Nurse Is Providing Care to a Woman 2