A postpartum client is experiencing severe hemorrhage 2 hours after vaginal delivery. Her vital signs are: blood pressure 80/50 mmHg, pulse 120 bpm, respirations 24/min. The fundus is boggy and located 2 cm above the umbilicus. What is the priority nursing intervention?
1Administer oxygen at 10 L/min via non-rebreather mask
2Insert a large-bore IV catheter and begin fluid resuscitation
3Perform fundal massage to stimulate uterine contraction✓ 정답
4Prepare the client for emergency surgery
해설
Fundal massage is the priority to directly address uterine atony, the most common cause of PPH. Oxygen, IV fluids, and surgery are supportive but do not stop the bleeding source.
The client presents with classic indicators of early postpartum hemorrhage (PPH): a boggy uterus displaced above the umbilicus, tachycardia (120 bpm), hypotension (80/50 mmHg), and tachypnea. The description of the fundus as "boggy" and elevated strongly points to uterine atony as the underlying cause, which is the most common etiology of PPH [4]. In uterine atony, the myometrium fails to contract after placental separation, leaving the spiral arteries at the placental site open and leading to rapid blood loss.
Prioritization Rationale
The priority nursing intervention is fundal massage. This decision is based on the physiological mechanism of uterine atony and the principle of addressing the direct cause of hemorrhage as the first step. The myometrial muscle fibers must be mechanically stimulated to contract, which compresses the bleeding vessels. This is the most immediate, least invasive, and often highly effective intervention for a boggy uterus. A structured clinical approach to PPH emphasizes rapid identification and treatment of the underlying cause to prevent progression to severe hypovolemia [1]. If the uterus is not firm, pharmacological uterotonics and other measures will be less effective because the blood vessels remain uncompressed. Fundal massage directly targets the atonic uterus, making it the correct first action.
Analysis of Other Options
The other interventions are critical components of PPH management but are not the highest priority first step based on the assessment finding of a boggy fundus.
- Option 1 (Administer oxygen): Oxygenation is essential for a client in hypovolemic shock to maximize oxygen-carrying capacity. However, it is a supportive measure that does not stop the source of the hemorrhage. It should be done concurrently but does not take priority over the intervention that controls the bleeding.
- Option 2 (Insert IV and begin fluid resuscitation): Fluid resuscitation is vital to restore circulating volume and prevent hypovolemic shock, a major contributor to maternal morbidity [1,2]. However, replacing volume without simultaneously stopping the loss is futile. The immediate nursing action is to halt the bleeding at its source via fundal massage, while another team member or a rapid second action is to establish IV access.
- Option 4 (Prepare for emergency surgery): Surgical intervention is reserved for cases refractory to initial measures, such as refractory uterine atony unresponsive to massage and uterotonics [4]. The scenario describes an initial finding of a boggy fundus, not a failure of first-line treatments. Escalating directly to surgery bypasses the essential and effective first-line nursing and medical interventions.
The sequence of care in PPH requires a logical progression from the least to the most invasive, always starting with the intervention that directly corrects the primary pathophysiology. For a boggy uterus, that is fundal massage. This aligns with evidence-based therapeutic management that prioritizes systematic evaluation and rapid, targeted intervention [1,3].
References (research sources)
[1]
Contemporary Approach to Postpartum Hemorrhage: Early Diagnosis and Evidence-Based Therapeutic Management.Research articleZúñiga Gómez E, Durán Monge PR, Castro Rivero LC. (2026) · DOI: 10.7759/cureus.107095
[4]
Concurrent uterine rupture and refractory uterine atony leading to catastrophic postpartum hemorrhage: a case report.Case reportFathurrahman FA, Santoso KH, Fitriati M. (2026) · DOI: 10.1097/rc9.0000000000000204
Clinical Practice Guide: Immediate Management of Postpartum Hemorrhage from Uterine Atony
Scenario
A postpartum client 2 hours after vaginal delivery presents with severe hemorrhage, a boggy fundus displaced 2 cm above the umbilicus, BP 80/50 mmHg, and pulse 120 bpm.
Priority Nursing Action
Perform immediate fundal massage. This is the first-line mechanical intervention to stimulate uterine contraction and compress open spiral arteries at the placental site. Use one hand just above the symphysis pubis to support the lower uterine segment while the other hand massages the fundus in a circular motion until firm.
Sequential Management Steps
Call for Help: Activate the facility's obstetric emergency response team immediately while initiating massage.
Uterine Massage & Bladder Emptying: Continue fundal massage and ensure the bladder is empty via catheterization, as a full bladder can displace the uterus and inhibit contraction.
Pharmacological Uterotonics: Administer oxytocin (Pitocin) as the first-line uterotonic agent, often as an IV bolus followed by continuous infusion. Other agents like methylergonovine, carboprost, or misoprostol may follow per protocol.
Simultaneous Hemodynamic Support: Insert two large-bore IV catheters, initiate fluid resuscitation with crystalloids, and administer oxygen at 10–15 L/min via non-rebreather mask to maintain oxygen saturation above 95%.
Bimanual Compression: If massage and medications fail, perform bimanual uterine compression by placing one hand in the vagina and the other on the abdomen to compress the uterus between them.
Escalation to Surgical Intervention: Prepare for surgical options such as uterine tamponade (e.g., Bakri balloon), uterine artery embolization, or laparotomy for surgical ligation or hysterectomy if bleeding remains uncontrolled.
Ongoing Reassessment
Continuously monitor vital signs, uterine tone, and lochia flow every 5–15 minutes. Quantify blood loss by weighing pads and linens. Assess for signs of coagulopathy or worsening shock, including altered mental status, oliguria, and skin changes.
Uterine Atony — Failure of the uterine myometrium to contract after delivery, leaving spiral arteries open and causing hemorrhage; the most common cause of postpartum hemorrhage.
Fundal Massage — A technique of mechanically stimulating the uterine fundus through the abdominal wall to promote myometrial contraction and compress bleeding vessels.
Boggy Uterus — A uterus that feels soft and poorly contracted upon palpation, indicating a lack of muscle tone and a high risk for hemorrhage.
Postpartum Hemorrhage (PPH) — Cumulative blood loss greater than 1000 mL or blood loss accompanied by signs of hypovolemia within 24 hours of birth.