What should a nurse expect when assessing a client who is postpartum regarding their urinary output?

After childbirth, it is common for women to experience increased urinary output, a condition known as diuresis. This is the body's way of rapidly eliminating excess fluid that was retained during pregnancy, which can lead to an increased volume of urine produced. The hormonal changes and shifts in fluid balance after delivery contribute to this phenomenon.

In the postpartum period, the body works to restore homeostasis, and as a result, women may notice that they are urinating more frequently and in greater quantities than usual. This is often considered a normal finding and typically lasts for several days after delivery until the body stabilizes its fluid levels.

Factors influencing this increased output include the decrease in levels of hormones such as progesterone, which can lead to increased renal blood flow and subsequently increased glomerular filtration rate. Additionally, women may also be more aware of their need to urinate due to the relief of the pressure that the growing uterus placed on the bladder during pregnancy.

This physiological response contrasts with the other choices. High levels of protein in the urine might indicate a pathological condition such as preeclampsia or kidney issues, urinary incontinence can be common but is not a universal expectation immediately postpartum, and a decreased urge to urinate is usually contrary to what new