A nurse is completing a newborn assessment and notices small white nodules on the roof of the newborn’s mouth. This finding is characteristic of which of the following conditions?

Choice A rationale
Uterine atony refers to a soft and weak uterus after childbirth. It happens when your uterine muscles don’t contract enough to clamp the placental blood vessels shut after childbirth. This can lead to life-threatening blood loss after delivery. One of the causes of uterine atony is urinary retention. When the bladder is full, it can displace the uterus, preventing it from contracting properly. This can lead to uterine atony and postpartum hemorrhage. Therefore, urinary retention can cause uterine atony and lateral displacement of the fundus.
Choice B rationale
Poor involution of the uterus is a condition where the uterus does not return to its normal size after childbirth. While poor involution can lead to prolonged bleeding, it does not directly cause uterine atony. Uterine atony is specifically a lack of muscle contraction, while poor involution is a failure of the uterus to reduce in size.
Choice C rationale
While infection can lead to many complications during the postpartum period, it is not a direct cause of uterine atony. Infections can cause endometritis, which is inflammation of the uterine lining, but this does not prevent the uterus from contracting.
Choice D rationale
Hemorrhage, or heavy bleeding, is a result of uterine atony, not a cause. When the uterus does not contract properly after childbirth, it can lead to excessive bleeding, or hemorrhage.

Choice A rationale
The nurse should be concerned about a client with an 18kg (4 lb) weight gain in her first trimester. This is because the expected weight gain for a client in the first trimester is usually around 1.8 kg (4 lb)1. A weight gain of 18 kg in the first trimester significantly exceeds this expectation, which could indicate a potential health issue such as gestational diabetes or multiple pregnancies. It’s important for the nurse to report this finding to the healthcare provider for further evaluation and management.
Choice B rationale
A client with a 68 kg (15 lb) weight gain in her second trimester does not necessarily pose a concern. Weight gain during pregnancy varies among individuals and can be influenced by factors such as the mother’s body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy, the baby’s growth rate, and the mother’s diet and lifestyle. However, it’s always important to monitor weight gain throughout pregnancy to ensure it’s within a healthy range.
Choice C rationale
A client with a 13 kg (25 lb) weight gain in her third trimester does not necessarily pose a concern. Weight gain during the third trimester can be influenced by factors such as the baby’s growth rate, amniotic fluid volume, and the mother’s increased blood volume. However, it’s always important to monitor weight gain throughout pregnancy to ensure it’s within a healthy range.
Choice D rationale
A client with a 3.6 kg (8 lb) weight gain in her first trimester does not necessarily pose a concern. This is within the expected weight gain range for the first trimester. However, it’s always important to monitor weight gain throughout pregnancy to ensure it’s within a healthy range.