During the early postpartal period, which of the following increases due to a physiological response to inflammation and pain?

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In the early postpartal period, a woman's body undergoes significant physiological changes as it adjusts to the recent delivery of the baby. Among these changes, the white blood cell count typically increases as a response to inflammation and pain associated with the postpartum state. This increase is part of the body's natural defense mechanism, enhancing the immune response to potential infections that can occur after childbirth.

During labor and delivery, the body experiences trauma, and the resulting inflammatory process can lead to an elevated number of white blood cells, which are crucial for fighting off infections and aiding in the recovery process. This physiological response helps protect the mother as her body heals and adjusts back to a non-pregnant state.

The other options do not typically represent a direct response to inflammation and pain in the same way that white blood cell count does. While heart rate and respiratory rate may fluctuate due to a variety of factors, including anxiety or pain, they are not specific indicators of the body's inflammatory response. Similarly, a change in red blood cell count would not primarily be related to inflammation and pain. Instead, variations in red blood cell levels can occur due to blood loss during delivery or changes in blood volume, rather than as a direct consequence of the inflammatory response.

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