On the second postpartum day, a woman's fundal height is palpable at the level of the umbilicus. By approximately how much does the fundal height normally decrease each day during the puerperium?

• A 0.5 cm per day
• B 1 cm per day ✓
• C 2 cm per day
• D 3 cm per day

Explanation

Immediately after delivery the fundus lies about 12 to 13 cm above the symphysis pubis, roughly at the umbilicus by day 1 to 2. Thereafter it involutes at approximately 1 cm per day, becoming a pelvic organ by about the tenth to twelfth day when it is no longer palpable abdominally. A slower rate of descent suggests subinvolution, usually from retained products or infection.

Reference: DC Dutta's Textbook of Obstetrics, 10th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.