A nurse is providing care for a newborn suspected of having neonatal abstinence syndrome. Which symptom would support this diagnosis?

Choice A rationale
Restraining a child during a seizure is not recommended. It does not stop the seizure and can lead to injury. The child’s movements during a seizure are involuntary, so trying to stop them can cause harm.
Choice B rationale
Placing the child in a side-lying position is recommended during a seizure. This position helps to prevent aspiration, which can occur if the child vomits during the seizure.
Choice C rationale
It is a common misconception that a person having a seizure can swallow their tongue, but this is not true. Attempting to place a tongue depressor or any other object in the child’s mouth during a seizure can cause injury to the child’s teeth or jaw.
Choice D rationale
Assessing the child’s airway patency is crucial during a seizure. Seizures can cause changes in breathing patterns and can potentially lead to respiratory distress. Therefore, monitoring the child’s breathing during a seizure is important.
Choice E rationale
Removing objects from the child’s bed or surrounding area can help prevent injury during a seizure. During a seizure, the child may have uncontrolled movements, and removing nearby objects can help ensure the child’s safety.

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.