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Postpartum Assessment (BUBBLE-HE) — NCLEX Cheat Sheet

Fundus firm, midline, at umbilicus

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👤 By the CinnaRN Clinical Content Team 🕐 Updated 2026-07-11 🏷️ Physiological Adaptation 🔖 Free to read, print, and share

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Use this quick-reference guide to spot, treat, and prevent Postpartum Assessment (BUBBLE-HE) on the NCLEX. Keep it handy during review and on exam day!

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Bubble

Key facts

Breasts, Uterus, Bladder
Bowel, Lochia, Episiotomy
+ Homans, Emotions (HE)

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Normal

Key facts

Fundus firm, midline, ↓ 1 cm/day
Lochia: rubra → serosa → alba

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Do

Nursing actions

Boggy uterus → massage fundus
Empty bladder (displaces uterus)

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Report

Notify / act now

Saturate pad < 1h → hemorrhage
Foul lochia, fever → infection

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Quick Tip

The fundus should be firm, midline, and at the umbilicus right after birth, descending about one fingerbreadth (1 cm) per day.

📖 Related Topics

Hypokalemia Hyperkalemia Hyponatremia Heart Failure

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