A mother is upset because her newborn has lost 6 ounces since birth 2 days ago. The nurse informs the mother that it is normal for a newborn to lose which percentage of their birth weight within the first week of life?

A. The woman had a vacuum-assisted birth. While vacuum-assisted births can cause perineal trauma, the specific orders for ice packs, sitz baths, and stool softeners are more directly related to an episiotomy, which involves a surgical incision that requires careful postpartum care.

B. The woman is a gravida 2, para 2. This information indicates the woman's obstetric history but does not directly correlate with the need for perineal ice packs, sitz baths, and stool softeners. These orders are more specific to perineal trauma or surgical intervention.

C. The woman has an episiotomy. An episiotomy involves a surgical cut made at the opening of the vagina during childbirth, which can cause significant perineal pain and swelling. The orders for perineal ice packs, sitz baths, and stool softeners are intended to manage pain, reduce swelling, and prevent constipation, which can be particularly uncomfortable with perineal stitches.

D. The woman received epidural anesthesia. While epidural anesthesia is a common pain management technique during labor, it does not necessitate the use of perineal ice packs, sitz baths, or stool softeners postpartum. These orders are more indicative of perineal trauma or surgical intervention such as an episiotomy.

The correct answer is: c. The lungs of a baby delivered by cesarean section may sound moist for 24 hours after birth.

Choice A reason:

If this baby was born vaginally, it could indicate a pneumothorax.

A pneumothorax occurs when air leaks into the space between the lung and chest wall, causing the lung to collapse. This condition can happen in newborns, especially those with underlying lung issues or those who have undergone mechanical ventilation However, moist lung sounds in a newborn are not typically indicative of a pneumothorax. Pneumothorax is more likely to present with symptoms such as rapid breathing, grunting, and cyanosis.

Choice B reason:

The neonate must have aspirated surfactant.

Surfactant aspiration is not a common cause of moist lung sounds. Surfactant is a substance that helps keep the lungs’ air sacs open and is crucial for proper lung function. Aspiration of surfactant is not a typical diagnosis and would not usually result in moist lung sounds. Instead, surfactant deficiency or dysfunction can lead to respiratory distress syndrome, which presents differently.

Choice C reason:

The lungs of a baby delivered by cesarean section may sound moist for 24 hours after birth.

Babies born via cesarean section often have moist lung sounds because they do not experience the compression of the chest that occurs during vaginal delivery, which helps expel fluid from the lungs. This retained fluid can cause moist lung sounds, which typically resolve within the first 24 hours after birth. This is a normal finding and does not usually indicate a serious problem.

Choice D reason:

The nurse should notify the pediatrician stat for this emergency situation.

While it is always important to monitor newborns closely, moist lung sounds alone in a baby born via cesarean section are not typically an emergency. This finding is usually due to retained fluid in the lungs, which is expected to clear within the first day of life. Immediate notification of the pediatrician is not necessary unless the baby shows other signs of respiratory distress or other concerning symptoms.