Postpartum care includes a standard expectation that the fundus descends how much per day during involution?

• A. About 2 inches per day
• B. About 1 fingerbreadth per day
• C. Stays at the umbilicus for 1 week
• D. Descends only after 1 month

Answer: (B)

During involution, the uterus shrinks and moves downward at a steady pace. The standard expectation is that the fundus descends about one fingerbreadth (roughly 1 cm) each day after birth. This gradual descent begins soon after delivery, with the fundus typically at the level of the umbilicus initially and moving downward about 1 cm daily. By about 6 to 10 days postpartum, it is noticeably lower in the abdomen, and by two weeks it is no longer palpable in the upper abdomen as it has descended into the pelvis.

So, the best answer reflects that everyday descent of about one fingerbreadth per day. Options suggesting a much faster descent (like two inches daily), no descent for a week, or descent only after a month don’t match the usual involution timeline. If the fundus isn’t descending as expected, consider factors like a full bladder or uterine overdistention, which can blunt involution.