Where it is
In the female pelvis between the bladder and rectum, usually tilted forward. It has a fundus (top), body and cervix (opening into the vagina).
What it does
Its lining (endometrium) thickens each cycle; its muscle (myometrium) contracts during labor and clamps down on blood vessels after birth.
Clinical relevance
- After birth, the fundus should be firm and midline, descending about 1 cm (one fingerbreadth) per day.
- A boggy uterus is the most common cause of postpartum hemorrhage.
- A fundus displaced to one side often means a full bladder.
Nursing focus
- Assess fundal height, firmness and position with one hand supporting the lower uterine segment.