A nurse is assessing a client who is 6 hours postpartum and has endometritis. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

Sore nipples are a common problem for breastfeeding mothers, especially in the first few days or weeks after delivery. They can cause pain, discomfort, and frustration, and may interfere with breastfeeding success and satisfaction. The most common cause of sore nipples is poor latch, which means that the newborn does not attach to the breast correctly and does not suckle effectively. Poor latch can result from various factors, such as improper positioning, tongue-tie, inverted or flat nipples, engorgement, or thrush.

The nurse should assess the newborn's latch while breastfeeding to identify and correct any problems that may cause sore nipples. The nurse should observe the following signs of a good latch:
- The newborn's mouth is wide open and covers most of the areola (the dark area around the nipple).
- The newborn's chin and nose touch the breast, and the cheeks are rounded and not dimpled.

- The newborn's tongue is visible under the lower lip and curls around the breast.
- The newborn's lips are flanged outwards and not tucked inwards.
- The newborn's jaw moves rhythmically and smoothly, and swallowing sounds are audible.
- The mother feels a gentle tugging sensation on the nipple, but no pain or pinching.

The nurse should also teach the mother how to achieve a good latch by using different positions, supporting the breast with her hand, tickling the newborn's lower lip with her nipple, and bringing the newborn to the breast when their mouth is wide open. The nurse should also encourage the mother to seek help from a lactation consultant or a peer support group if she has persistent or severe nipple pain.

a) Instructing the client to wait 4 hours between daytime feedings is not an appropriate action for the nurse to take. This may reduce nipple soreness temporarily, but it can also cause breast engorgement, milk supply reduction, mastitis, or poor weight gain in the newborn. The nurse should advise the client to feed the newborn on demand, usually every 1.5 to 3 hours during the day and every 3 to 4 hours at night.
b) Offering supplemental formula between the newborn's feedings is not an appropriate action for the nurse to take. This may interfere with breastfeeding initiation and establishment, as it can reduce the mother's milk supply, confuse the newborn's sucking pattern, increase the risk of nipple preference or rejection, and expose the newborn to potential allergens or infections. The nurse should support exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, unless there is a medical indication for supplementation.
c) Having the client limit the length of breastfeeding to 5 minutes per breast is not an appropriate action for the nurse to take. This may not be enough time for the newborn to get enough milk, especially the hindmilk that is richer in fat and calories. It may also prevent proper drainage of the breast and lead to engorgement or mastitis. The nurse should advise the client to let the newborn feed until they are satisfied and release the breast on their own, which may take 10 to 20 minutes per breast on average.

Endometritis is an infection of the endometrium, the lining of the uterus, typically occurring after childbirth. When assessing a client with endometritis, the nurse should expect to find uterine tenderness as a common clinical finding. This finding is consistent with endometritis, which is characterized by inflammation and infection of the endometrium. Additional signs and symptoms may include an elevated temperature, increased lochia, foul-smelling lochia, and an elevated WBC count. Prompt identification and treatment of endometritis are important to prevent further complications.

Option a) A temperature of 37.4°C (99.3°F) is within the normal range and does not necessarily indicate endometritis. However, an elevated temperature above 38°C (100.4°F) or a persistent fever may be indicative of an infection and should be further evaluated.

Option b) Scant lochia (minimal vaginal bleeding) is not a characteristic finding of endometritis. In endometritis, lochia is often increased in amount and may have an unpleasant odor.

Option d) A white blood cell (WBC) count of 9,000/mm³ is within the normal range. However, in cases of endometritis, there is usually an elevation in the WBC count as a response to the infection. An elevated or increasing WBC count may be observed.