Name two risk factors for uterine atony after delivery.

Name two risk factors for uterine atony after delivery.

• A. Maternal age and diabetes
• B. Short labor with rapid contractions
• C. Overdistention of the uterus and prolonged/ ineffective labor
• D. Adequate uterine tone and rapid placental delivery

Answer: (C)

Uterine atony happens when the uterus fails to contract firmly after the placenta is delivered, so bleeding from the placental attachment sites continues. Two key risk factors are overdistention of the uterus and prolonged or ineffective labor. When the uterus is overdistended—such as with a large baby, polyhydramnios, or multiple gestation—the myometrium is stretched and contracts less effectively, making it hard for the uterus to clamp down after delivery. Prolonged or ineffective labor exhausts the uterus, depleting energy and leading to uterine fatigue, which also reduces the strength of contractions needed to stop bleeding. Together, these conditions increase the likelihood of atony and postpartum hemorrhage. The other options don’t directly predispose to atony: maternal age or diabetes aren’t specific risk factors; rapid contractions during a short labor don’t promote atony; and adequate uterine tone with rapid placental delivery suggests a normal, not atonic, process.

Uterine atony happens when the uterus fails to contract firmly after the placenta is delivered, so bleeding from the placental attachment sites continues. Two key risk factors are overdistention of the uterus and prolonged or ineffective labor. When the uterus is overdistended—such as with a large baby, polyhydramnios, or multiple gestation—the myometrium is stretched and contracts less effectively, making it hard for the uterus to clamp down after delivery. Prolonged or ineffective labor exhausts the uterus, depleting energy and leading to uterine fatigue, which also reduces the strength of contractions needed to stop bleeding. Together, these conditions increase the likelihood of atony and postpartum hemorrhage. The other options don’t directly predispose to atony: maternal age or diabetes aren’t specific risk factors; rapid contractions during a short labor don’t promote atony; and adequate uterine tone with rapid placental delivery suggests a normal, not atonic, process.