Maternity Nursing: Postpartum Q 35
During the 3rd PP day, which of the following observations about the client would the nurse be most likely to make?
A. The client appears interested in learning about neonatal care.
B. The client talks a lot about her birth experience.
C. The client sleeps whenever the neonate isn’t present.
D. The client requests help in choosing a name for the neonate.
Correct Answer: A. The client appears interested in learning about neonatal care.
The third to tenth days of PP care are the “taking-hold” phase, in which the new mother strives for independence and is eager for her neonate. The woman starts to initiate actions on her own and makes decisions without relying on others. She starts to focus on the newborn instead of herself and begins to actively participate in newborn care. The other options describe the phase in which the mother relives her birth experience.
Option B: The taking-in phase usually sets 1 to 2 days after delivery. The woman prefers to talk about her experiences during labor and birth and also her pregnancy. Encouraging the woman to talk about her experiences during labor and birth would greatly help her adjust and let her incorporate it into her new life.
Option C: This is the time of reflection for the woman because within the 2 to 3 day period, the woman is passive. The taking-in phase provides time for the woman to regain her physical strength and organize her rambling thoughts about her new role.
Option D: In the taking in phase, the woman becomes dependent on her healthcare provider or support person with some of the daily tasks and decision-making. This dependence is mainly due to her physical discomfort from hemorrhoids or the after pains, from the uncertainty of how she could care for the newborn, and also from the extreme tiredness she feels that follows childbirth.