Which of the following statements is INCORRECT related to the advantages of early ambulation in puerperium?

BTSC 3 August 2025

Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Easy

Appeared in: BTSC 3 August 2025

Explanation

The statement is incorrect because early ambulation after childbirth actually promotes, rather than hampers, uterine health.
Walking uses gravity and stimulates uterine contractions, which facilitates the drainage of lochia (postpartum bleeding) and helps the uterus contract back to its pre-pregnancy size (involution).
Therefore, stating that early ambulation hinders these processes is factually wrong.

Option B: This is a correct statement. By promoting faster physical recovery and preventing complications, early ambulation helps reduce the overall length of the hospital stay.
Option C: This is a correct statement and a key benefit of early ambulation. Movement stimulates the gastrointestinal tract, preventing constipation, and helps restore normal bladder function, reducing the risk of urinary retention.
Option D: This is a correct statement. Immobility is a major risk factor for blood clots. Early ambulation improves circulation in the legs, preventing venous stasis and significantly reducing the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Postpartum Care: Early Ambulation as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
A nurse's primary role is to encourage and assist the new mother with early and frequent ambulation as soon as it is safe.
Nursing interventions include managing postpartum pain effectively to enable movement, educating the patient on the benefits of walking, and assisting her during the first few times out of bed to prevent falls (orthostatic hypotension).
What if the patient had a cesarean section? Ambulation is still critical but may be initiated more gradually. The nurse would teach the patient how to get out of bed while splinting the incision to minimize pain and would assess the incision site regularly.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the negative keyword in the question: 'INCORRECT'. This means you are looking for the false statement among the options.
Next, recall the core concept: the benefits of early ambulation in the puerperium (the period after childbirth).
Evaluate each option to determine if it is a known advantage of early ambulation.
Option A suggests a negative effect (hampering uterine processes). Options B, C, and D describe positive effects (reducing hospital stay, complications, and thrombosis).
Based on medical knowledge, early ambulation helps uterine drainage and involution. Therefore, the statement that it 'hampers' them is false.
Confirm that the other options are true benefits. Reducing complications and thrombosis are direct benefits, which in turn lead to shorter hospital stays. Since B, C, and D are true, A must be the incorrect statement.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Obstetrics Williams p. 53-72