Timing of postpartum hematocrit determinations.
Postpartum hematocrit determinations have been done at eight, 16, and 24 hours after vaginal deliveries. We studied 23 patients in whom the hematocrit level dropped at least 10% from control value with a range of 10% to 32%. The peak drop in hematocrit occurred at eight hours in four patients, at 16 hours in nine patients, and at 24 hours in ten. Therefore, no single timed hematocrit determination in the first 24 hours post partum will detect the peak drop in a vast majority of patients. A proposed plan for timing of hematocrit determinations in the postpartum period is presented.
D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D013997:Time Factors