Postpartum SBAR Example: L&D Nursing Handoff
Postpartum nursing is one of the few specialties where you are responsible for two patients at once. A strong L&D SBAR handoff covers the mother's surgical or vaginal recovery, her emotional state, feeding progress, and newborn status — all organized so the incoming nurse can prioritize what needs attention first.
The example below covers a G2P2 on postpartum day 1 after a C-section. Notice how the mother's recovery and the newborn's status are both addressed, with breastfeeding documented in specific, actionable detail rather than vague terms.
SBAR Example: G2P2 Day 1 Post C-Section
Situation
Mrs. Adeyemi, room 508, 31-year-old G2P2, POD 1 from repeat C-section under spinal anesthesia. Baby girl, 3.4kg, rooming in, born at 0814 yesterday. Mom and baby are both stable. Main focus today has been pain management and establishing breastfeeding — she breastfed her first child for 14 months and is motivated, but this baby is a sleepy feeder. Husband Marcus is at bedside, has been helpful. Their 3-year-old is with grandparents.
Background
Mother: PMH: gestational diabetes (diet-controlled this pregnancy, resolved), mild preeclampsia with first pregnancy (no issues this time — BPs have been normal throughout). Home meds: prenatal vitamin. Allergies: codeine (nausea). Surgical hx: primary C-section 3 years ago for failure to progress, repeat C-section this admission (elective, uncomplicated, EBL 700mL). Blood type: O positive, antibody screen negative. GBS negative. Rubella immune, HIV/RPR negative. IV: 20g L forearm, LR at 125mL/hr (will D/C when tolerating PO well). Foley removed at 0600 today, voided x2 since (350mL, 275mL). Incision: low transverse, staples in place, steri- strips over, dressing removed this AM — clean, dry, well-approximated, no erythema.
Baby: Born 39+2, Apgars 8 and 9. Birth weight 3.4kg. Vitamin K and erythromycin given. Hepatitis B vaccine given with maternal consent. Newborn screen collected at 24 hours of life. Circumcision NOT planned. Pediatrician Dr. Reeves rounded this AM — exam normal, no concerns. Car seat at bedside.
Assessment
Mother: VS: BP 118/72, HR 78, RR 16, T 98.6, SpO2 99% RA. Pain 4/10 at rest, 6/10 with movement. Current pain regimen: ibuprofen 600mg q6h ATC (last dose 1400), oxycodone 5mg q4h PRN (took 2 doses today — at 0800 and 1600, good relief). Fundus firm, midline, 1 fingerbreadth below umbilicus. Lochia moderate rubra, no clots, normal odor. Incision intact as described. Abdomen soft, +BS. Tolerating regular diet, ate 80% of meals today. Ambulated x3 with assistance, steady gait, mild dizziness first time (resolved). Legs: no edema, no calf tenderness, SCDs on when in bed. Emotionally: tearful briefly this afternoon (normal day 1 hormone shift), responded well to reassurance, bonding well with baby, good eye contact and responsive to cues. Edinburgh Postnatal Depression screen: 4 (low risk).
Baby: VS: HR 142, RR 38, T 97.8 axillary (skin-to- skin helped bring up from 97.4 this AM). SpO2 not indicated. Weight today: 3.28kg (3.5% loss from birth weight — within normal). Color pink, mild physiologic jaundice to face only (transcutaneous bili not indicated yet). Active when awake, good tone. Feeding: breastfed x5 today, latch is shallow on right breast (mom is right-handed, less comfortable positioning on that side). Left breast: good deep latch in cross-cradle. Longest feed: 18 minutes left breast. Shortest: 5 minutes right breast (baby fell asleep). Tried football hold on right side — slightly better. No supplementation given. Output: 3 wet diapers, 2 meconium stools today. Lactation consultant Megan visited at 1100 — worked on right-side positioning, recommended nipple shield trial if latch does not improve by tomorrow.
Recommendation
Mother: Continue ibuprofen ATC (next dose 2000) and oxycodone PRN — she prefers to take it before attempting breastfeeding so she can position comfortably. Encourage ambulation at least x2 overnight. Monitor fundus and lochia — call if fundus boggy or lochia heavy/clots. Staple removal planned for POD 3 (tomorrow AM) by OB team during rounds. D/C IV when she has tolerated 1L PO (currently at approximately 750mL). Stool softener scheduled — has not had BM yet, which is expected POD 1.
Baby: Watch for feeding cues overnight — this baby gives subtle cues (rooting, hand-to-mouth) before crying, and feeds better when caught early. Encourage mom to try football hold on right side for overnight feeds. If baby goes longer than 3 hours without feeding, wake and attempt. If unable to latch for 2 consecutive attempts, offer 10mL expressed colostrum via syringe (mom hand- expressed successfully this afternoon, small amount in labeled syringe in milk fridge). Lactation returning tomorrow AM. Monitor weight — if loss exceeds 7% by tomorrow, discuss supplementation plan with pediatrician. Jaundice: visual check with each feed, transcutaneous bili if jaundice extends below nipple line. Hearing screen not yet done — scheduled for tomorrow before discharge. Estimated discharge POD 2 (tomorrow) if both mom and baby meet criteria.
The Couplet Care Approach
This example demonstrates effective couplet care documentation — the mother and baby are reported together because their care is interdependent. The breastfeeding details bridge both patients: the mother's pain affects her positioning ability, which affects the baby's latch, which affects the baby's weight, which determines the discharge timeline. A good postpartum SBAR makes these connections explicit.
The detail about the baby's subtle feeding cues is the kind of observation that only comes from spending 12 hours with a patient. Passing it along in the SBAR prevents the night nurse from missing feeding windows and potentially triggering supplementation that could have been avoided.
Record Your L&D Handoff Quickly
Postpartum handoffs are long because you are covering two patients. ShiftSBAR's voice recorder lets you speak your notes about mom and baby together and automatically organizes everything — fundal checks, feeding logs, baby output, pain management — into a clean SBAR format.