A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a new parent about breastfeeding her infant. Which of the following statements should the nurse make?

Rationale for Correct Choices

• Endometritis: The client’s postpartum course—cesarean delivery, prolonged rupture of membranes, and postpartum Day 3 fever—places her at high risk for endometritis, a uterine infection. Signs include uterine tenderness, boggy fundus, and foul-smelling lochia.

• Uterus and lochia assessment: The firm but tender uterus with boggy areas and moderate dark brown, foul-smelling lochia are classic indicators of endometritis. These assessment findings directly reflect the infection within the uterine cavity and help guide immediate intervention.

Rationale for Incorrect Choices

• Mastitis: While the client reports firm, warm breasts with nipple discomfort, these symptoms alone without localized redness, unilateral involvement, or systemic malaise are not sufficient to diagnose mastitis. The uterine and lochia findings are more indicative of endometritis.

• Postpartum hemorrhage: Although uterine atony can cause bleeding, the client’s fundus is firm after massage and the lochia is moderate, making hemorrhage less likely at this point. Hemoglobin remains within normal limits, further reducing the likelihood of acute postpartum hemorrhage.

• Fever: Fever is a symptom rather than a diagnosis. While present (38.2° C), it supports the presence of infection but does not specify which type, so it is not the best standalone choice for the evidence used to identify the condition.

• Elevated WBC (markedly 33,000/mm3) confirm a systemic infection, it is a general sign of infection that could apply to any source (e.g., wound or mastitis). The assessment of the uterus and lochia specifically localizes the infection to the reproductive tract.

Rationale:
A. Prolonged QT interval: Morphine does not typically cause a prolonged QT interval. QT prolongation is more commonly associated with certain antiarrhythmic or psychotropic medications, not opioid toxicity.

B. Fluid retention: Morphine is not known to cause fluid retention. Signs of toxicity are primarily related to central nervous system and respiratory depression rather than cardiovascular fluid balance.

C. Hyperactive deep tendon reflexes: Morphine toxicity usually depresses neurological function, leading to decreased reflexes rather than hyperactivity. Hyperactive reflexes are not characteristic of opioid overdose.

D. Bradypnea: Respiratory depression, manifested as bradypnea, is a hallmark sign of morphine toxicity. Excessive morphine depresses the brainstem respiratory centers, reducing the rate and depth of respirations, which can be life-threatening if not addressed promptly.