A new mother of a newborn girl calls the clinic in a panic, concerned about the blood-tinged soiled diaper. What is the best response from the nurse?

Encourage the newborn to breastfeed every 2 hr. This is because breastfeeding helps the newborn to excrete bilirubin through stool and urine. Breastfeeding also prevents dehydration, which can worsen jaundice. The nurse should also monitor the newborn’s weight, hydration status, and bilirubin levels during phototherapy.

Choice A is wrong because monitoring the newborn’s blood glucose level hourly is not necessary for phototherapy.

Choice B is wrong because applying lotion to the newborn’s skin twice per day can interfere with the effectiveness of phototherapy and increase the risk of skin irritation.

Choice D is wrong because maintaining the newborn in a prone position can increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and limit the exposure of skin to light.

Check the client's fundus. Lochia rubra is the normal vaginal bleeding and discharge that occurs after childbirth. It consists of blood, mucus, and tissue from the placenta and the uterus lining. It is usually bright red and may have some clots, but these clots should not be big or difficult to pass. If the client has a large amount of lochia rubra with several clots, it may indicate that the uterus is not contracting well and needs to be massaged to expel any retained tissue or blood. Checking the client's fundus is the first action the nurse should take to assess the uterine tone and location.

Choice A is incorrect because requesting the provider perform a vaginal examination is not the first action the nurse should take. A vaginal examination may be necessary if the fundal massage does not reduce the bleeding or if there is a suspicion of lacerations or hematoma, but it is not a priority intervention.

Choice C is incorrect because measuring the client's vital signs is not the first action the nurse should take. Vital signs can help monitor the client's hemodynamic status and identify signs of shock, such as tachycardia, hypotension, and pallor, but they are not as important as checking the fundus in this situation.

Choice D is incorrect because feeling for a full bladder is not the first action the nurse should take. A full bladder can displace the uterus and interfere with its contraction, leading to increased bleeding. However, it is not as likely as uterine atony to cause a large amount of lochia rubra with several clots.