A nurse is reinforcing discharge teaching about home safety with a client who is postpartum. In which of the following positions should the nurse instruct the client to place their newborn in the crib?

(a) Supine
Placing the newborn in the supine position (on their back) for sleep is recommended by pediatric guidelines to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related causes of infant death. The supine position allows for optimal airway patency and decreases the risk of suffocation. This position is safest for the newborn during sleep.

(b) Prone
Placing the newborn in the prone position (on their stomach) for sleep is not recommended due to an increased risk of SIDS. The prone position can obstruct the infant's airway and increase the risk of suffocation or overheating, leading to adverse outcomes.

(c) Left lateral
While placing the newborn on the left side may be recommended for certain medical procedures or interventions, such as feeding to reduce reflux, it is not recommended for sleep positioning. Placing the newborn in the left lateral position during sleep does not provide the same benefits for airway patency and SIDS risk reduction as the supine position.

(d) Right lateral
Similar to the left lateral position, placing the newborn on the right-side during sleep does not offer the same protective benefits as the supine position. It does not reduce the risk of SIDS and may pose similar risks as the prone position, such as airway obstruction.

(A) "White blood cell count is an indicator of anemia.”
White blood cell count is not directly related to anemia. Anemia is typically assessed by hemoglobin and hematocrit levels, which reflect the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. White blood cell count measures immune system function and can indicate infection or inflammation rather than anemia.

(B) "Urine specific gravity identifies my risk for pregnancy induced hypertension.”
Urine specific gravity is a measure of urine concentration and hydration status, and it is not typically used to identify the risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension (preeclampsia). Preeclampsia is diagnosed based on symptoms such as hypertension (high blood pressure) and proteinuria (protein in the urine), along with other criteria.

(C) "Platelet count identifies if I am at risk for bleeding.”
Platelet count is a laboratory test that measures the number of platelets in the blood. Platelets are essential for blood clotting, so a low platelet count (thrombocytopenia) can indicate an increased risk of bleeding, which is pertinent to pregnancy, especially in cases of conditions like gestational thrombocytopenia or preeclampsia.

(D) "Sedimentation rate checks for signs of cancer.”
The sedimentation rate (ESR or sed rate) is a nonspecific test that measures inflammation in the body, but it is not used to check for signs of cancer specifically. Elevated sedimentation rate can indicate various inflammatory conditions such as infection, autoimmune diseases, or chronic inflammatory disorders. It is not a primary test for cancer diagnosis.