A nurse is planning care immediately following birth for a newborn who has a myelomeningocele that is leaking cerebrospinal fluid.
Which of the following actions should the nurse include in the plan of care?

A newborn who is 10 hr old and has onset tachypnea.
Tachypnea means rapid breathing and can be a sign of respiratory distress.
Transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN) is a respiratory disorder usually seen shortly after delivery in babies who are born near or at term.
It is important for the nurse to assess this newborn first to determine the cause of the tachypnea and provide appropriate care.

Choice A, a newborn who is 24 hr old and has not had a meconium stool, may
require further assessment but is not as urgent as a newborn with tachypnea.
Choice B, a newborn who has a short frenulum and is having difficulty breastfeeding, may require assistance with feeding but is not as urgent as a newborn with tachypnea.
Choice D, a newborn who is 30 hr old and has blood-tinged discharge in her diaper, may have pseudomenstruation which is normal and not a cause for concern.

This client should be reassessed by the RN prior to transfer, as worsening perineal pain may indicate a hematoma, infection, or inadequate pain management. The RN should inspect the perineum, check the vital signs, and evaluate the effectiveness of the medication.

The other options are not correct because:

B .A multigravida whose peri-pad is 1/4 saturated with lochia rubra after one hour does not need to be reassessed by the RN, as this is a normal finding for a client two hours post-birth. Lochia rubra is the red-colored vaginal discharge that contains blood and debris from the placental site, and it usually lasts for 3 to 4 days after delivery. A peri-pad that is 1/4 saturated after one hour is within the expected range of blood loss.

C. A multigravida complaining of strong afterbirth pains when breastfeeding does not need to be reassessed by the RN, as this is a normal finding for a client two hours post-birth. Afterbirth pains are cramps caused by uterine contractions that help shrink the uterus and prevent bleeding. They are more common and intense in multiparous women and during breastfeeding, as oxytocin is released and stimulates the contractions.

D. A primigravida who passed a small clot when she sat up on the edge of the bed does not need to be reassessed by the RN, as this is a normal finding for a client two hours post-birth. Small clots may form in the uterus or vagina due to pooling of blood during rest or anesthesia, and they are usually expelled when changing position or ambulating. As long as the clot is smaller than a plum and there is no excessive bleeding or pain, it is not a cause for concern.