A nurse is reinforcing discharge teaching about postpartum activity restrictions to a client who had a cesarean birth 2 days ago. Which of the following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?

Rationale:

A. "Swaddle the newborn before securing the clips.": Swaddling before placing the newborn in the car seat is unsafe because it can prevent proper restraint and increase the risk of injury during a crash. The newborn should be secured directly by the harness straps.

B. "Add a soft head support in the car seat if necessary.": Adding aftermarket soft head supports can interfere with the car seat’s harness system and safety performance. Only manufacturer-approved accessories should be used.

C. "Secure the straps across the newborn's chest at the level of their armpits.": The harness straps should be positioned at or just below the newborn’s shoulders, with the chest clip placed at the armpit level to ensure optimal restraint and prevent movement during sudden stops.

D. "Ensure that the car seat is positioned at a 90 degree incline.": The car seat should be reclined at approximately a 45-degree angle to prevent the newborn’s head from falling forward and obstructing the airway during travel.

Rationale:

A. "Colostrum provides vitamin K which is an essential nutrient for newborns." While vitamin K is essential for clotting, it is not found in sufficient amounts in colostrum. This is why newborns routinely receive a vitamin K injection shortly after birth, rather than relying on breast milk as a source.

B. "Colostrum provides many important antibodies that the newborn lacks." Colostrum is rich in immunoglobulins, especially IgA, which help protect the newborn from pathogens by providing passive immunity. These antibodies line the infant's gastrointestinal tract and offer critical defense during early life.

C. "Colostrum contains iron, which is important for a newborn's brain development." Although breast milk contains iron, colostrum is not a major source of it. Newborns are typically born with adequate iron stores to last several months, and the primary role of colostrum is immune protection, not iron supplementation.

D. "Colostrum contains a natural diuretic that stimulates the newborn to void." While colostrum has a laxative effect that helps the newborn pass meconium, there is no known diuretic component. Its primary importance lies in delivering antibodies and coating the GI tract to reduce infection risk.