A nurse is assessing a client at their first prenatal appointment. The client reports that the first day of their last menstrual period was September 17. Which of the following accurately represents the client's estimated date of birth using Naegele's Rule?

A) Dry and stimulate newborn with towel:
Drying and stimulating the newborn immediately after birth is a standard practice to prevent heat loss and promote early bonding. This action helps to prevent heat loss through evaporation and stimulates the newborn to breathe. It is an appropriate intervention to reduce the risk of hypothermia, not increase it.

B) Place a hat on the newborn's head:
Placing a hat on the newborn’s head is an appropriate and helpful intervention. Since a significant amount of heat is lost through the head, especially in newborns who have a larger surface area relative to their body mass, keeping the head covered with a hat helps to retain warmth and reduce the risk of hypothermia. This would not place the newborn at risk for hypothermia.

C) Maintain the delivery room temperature at 20° C (68° F):
A delivery room temperature of 20° C (68° F) is on the lower end of the recommended range for newborn care. Newborns are particularly susceptible to heat loss due to their high surface area-to-body weight ratio and immature thermoregulation system. A cooler environment like 20°C increases the risk of hypothermia, as the newborn will lose heat more quickly than it can generate on its own.

D) Place a blanket on top of maternal and newborn:
Placing a blanket over the mother and newborn is an appropriate intervention to prevent heat loss. This promotes warmth by reducing heat loss from the newborn's body surface to the cooler environment. This would not place the newborn at risk for hypothermia; instead, it helps to maintain body temperature.

A) Sublimation:
Sublimation refers to a defense mechanism where a person redirects potentially negative emotions or impulses into socially acceptable behaviors or activities. While this is a psychological concept, it does not apply to the father’s behavior immediately after birth. The father's actions, such as gazing at his baby and bonding, are not a result of sublimation but rather a normal part of bonding and attachment.

B) Claiming:
Claiming refers to the process where parents identify specific traits or characteristics in their newborn that they feel emotionally connected to, such as "He has my eyes" or "She has your nose." While the father might be engaging in claiming behaviors as he bonds with his baby, this term is more focused on recognizing physical attributes, rather than the intense emotional connection and captivation that is reflected in the scenario.

C) Mutuality:
Mutuality involves the reciprocal relationship between the newborn and the parents, where both give and receive emotional responses. It develops as the baby and parent interact, such as through eye contact, touch, and vocalizations. However, mutuality is a broader, ongoing process, while the father's behavior in this instance reflects a more specific emotional attachment and admiration, which aligns more closely with engrossment.

D) Engrossment:
Engrossment refers to the intense fascination and preoccupation that a parent, especially a father, feels toward their newborn. This process is characterized by behaviors such as gazing at the baby, holding them closely, and being captivated by their every movement. The father’s behavior in this scenario—staring into his baby’s eyes and showing deep emotional engagement—fits the definition of engrossment, which is a common and normal part of the bonding process immediately after birth.