Newborn Nursing Care Q 15
A newborn’s mother is alarmed to find small amounts of blood on her infant girl’s diaper. When the nurse checks the infant’s urine it is straw colored and has no offensive odor. Which explanation to the newborn’s mother is most appropriate?
A. “It appears your baby has a kidney infection”
B. “Breast-fed babies often experience this type of bleeding problem due to lack of vitamin C in the breast milk”
C. “The baby probably passed a small kidney stone”
D. “Some infants experience menstruation like bleeding when hormones from the mother are not available”
Correct Answer: D. “Some infants experience menstruation like bleeding when hormones from the mother are not available”.
Option D: Most dramatically, at 2 or 3 days of age, a girl infant may have a little bit of bleeding from her vagina. This is perfectly normal; it is caused by the withdrawal of the hormones she was exposed to in the womb. It will be her first and last menstrual period for another decade or so.