A nurse is caring for a newborn who was born at 38 weeks of gestation, weighs 3,200 g, and is in the 60th percentile for weight.

How should the nurse classify this neonate based on the weight and gestational age?

Choice A rationale
Iron supplements should not be administered in one large dose every day. High doses can cause side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and dark stools.
Choice B rationale
Monitoring blood count routinely for several weeks is necessary when a child is taking iron supplements for iron deficiency anemia. This helps to ensure that the supplement is effective and that iron levels are being restored to a healthy range.
Choice C rationale
Iron supplements are not necessarily more effective if administered with meals. In fact, some studies suggest that taking iron supplements with food might decrease the amount of iron absorbed.
Choice D rationale
Restricting fiber from a child’s diet will not necessarily help with the absorption of iron. In fact, a balanced diet, including fiber, is important for overall health.

Choice A rationale
Postpartum depression is characterized by severe mood swings, crying too much, difficulty bonding with the baby, withdrawing from family and friends, loss of appetite or eating much more than usual, inability to sleep or sleeping too much, overwhelming tiredness or loss of energy. While some of these symptoms overlap with the ones mentioned in the question, postpartum depression is usually more severe and lasts longer.
Choice B rationale
The letting-go phase is the final phase of maternal adjustment during which the mother moves forward from her existing role to take on a new one as a parent. This phase is characterized by reestablishment of relationships with others, resumption of sexual intimacy, resolution of physical symptoms, and attainment of a new normal. The symptoms mentioned in the question do not align with this phase.
Choice C rationale
Postpartum psychosis is a rare but serious mental health illness that can affect a woman soon after she has a baby. Symptoms can include hallucinations, delusions, a manic mood, a low mood, loss of inhibitions, restlessness, and severe confusion. The symptoms mentioned in the question do not align with this condition.
Choice D rationale
This is the correct answer. Postpartum fatigue is characterized by extreme tiredness that doesn’t get better with rest or sleep. This fatigue can make it difficult for the new mother to care for herself and her baby. The symptoms mentioned in the question - tearfulness, insomnia, lack of appetite, and a feeling of letdown - are all common symptoms of postpartum fatigue.