A nurse is caring for a client who experienced a vaginal birth 12 hours ago. The nurse recognizes the client is in the dependent, taking-in phase of maternal postpartum adjustment. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect during this phase?

Choice A Reason:
Tocolytic therapy is not indicated for a client with a post-term pregnancy. Tocolytics are medications used to suppress premature labor, and a pregnancy at 42 weeks is considered post-term, not preterm.

Choice B Reason:
Braxton-Hicks contractions are normal occurrences during pregnancy and do not indicate preterm labor. They are often referred to as "false labor" because they do not lead to cervical dilation or effacement. Therefore, tocolytic therapy is not necessary.

Choice C Reason:
Administering tocolytic therapy in the case of fetal death is not appropriate. Tocolytics are used to delay preterm labor to allow for fetal maturation or to prolong pregnancy to administer corticosteroids for fetal lung development, which is not applicable in this scenario.

Choice D Reason:
Tocolytic therapy is appropriate for a client experiencing preterm labor at 26 weeks of gestation. The goal of tocolytic therapy is to delay delivery to allow for the administration of corticosteroids to accelerate fetal lung maturity or to transfer the client to a facility equipped for premature infants.

Choice A reason:
While burping can be a sign that a baby is feeding, it is not a reliable indicator of whether the baby is getting enough breast milk. Burping is a way to release air that babies swallow during feeding, which can help prevent discomfort and gas. However, it does not correlate directly with the amount of milk intake.

Choice B reason:
The number of wet diapers is a direct indicator of a baby's hydration status and, by extension, how much breast milk they are receiving. A newborn who is getting enough milk will typically have 6 to 8 wet diapers per day after the first few days of life. This shows that the baby is well-hydrated and is receiving sufficient milk.

Choice C reason:
Sleep patterns in newborns can vary widely, and sleeping for at least 6 hours between feedings is not typical for a 2-day-old baby. Newborns usually need to feed every 2 to 3 hours, and long stretches of sleep without feeding may indicate that the baby is not getting enough milk and does not have the energy to wake and feed.

Choice D reason:
A wake cycle of 30 to 60 minutes after feeding can be normal for some babies, but it is not a measure of whether they are getting enough milk. The wake cycle can be influenced by many factors, including the baby's overall health, comfort, and environment.