A 25-year-old gravida 2, para 2-0-0-2 gave birth 4 hours ago to a 9-pound, 7-ounce boy after augmentation of labor with Pitocin. She puts on her call light and asks for her nurse right away, stating, "I'm bleeding a lot." The most likely cause of postpartum hemorrhage in this woman is:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The most common cause of postpartum hemorrhage is uterine atony, which occurs when the uterus is unable to contract effectively after delivery. This can be caused by a variety of factors, including prolonged or rapid labor, fetal macrosomia, multiple gestation, use of Pitocin for augmentation, and retained placental fragments. However, in this case, the patient underwent augmentation of labor with Pitocin and delivered a large baby, making uterine atony the most likely cause of her bleeding. Retained placental fragments may also contribute, but uterine atony is the primary concern. Unrepaired vaginal lacerations and puerperal infection are less likely causes of postpartum hemorrhage in this scenario.

A 25-Year-Old Gravida 2, Para 2-0-0-2 Gave Birth 4 Hours