Parents express concern about the milia on the face and nose of their baby. The nurse's most helpful response would be to instruct the parents to:

Massage the client’s fundus. This is because the most common cause of postpartum hemorrhage is uterine atony, which is the failure of the uterus to contract after delivery. Massaging the fundus can stimulate uterine contractions and reduce bleeding by compressing the blood vessels at the placental site.

Choice A is not correct because administering oxytocin is not the first action to take. Oxytocin is a medication that can also help the uterus contract, but it should be given after assessing the uterine tone and bleeding.

Choice B is not correct because observing for pooling of blood under the buttocks is not a priority action. It can help estimate the amount of blood loss, but it does not address the cause of bleeding or stop it.

Choice C is not correct because checking the client’s blood pressure is not the first action to take. Blood pressure can indicate hypovolemia due to blood loss, but it is not a sensitive indicator and may remain normal until a significant amount of blood is lost.

Fever. This is because fever is a sign of infection, which is a common and potentially serious postpartum complication. Infection can affect various parts of the body, such as the uterus (endometritis), the bladder (cystitis), the breast (mastitis), the wound (wound infection), or the blood (sepsis). Infection can cause symptoms such as fever, chills, pain, foul-smelling discharge, redness, swelling, or warmth at the site of infection.

Choice A is not correct because the change in lochia from red to white is not a sign of postpartum complication. Lochia is the vaginal discharge that occurs after childbirth. It changes color and amount over time, from red to pink to brown to yellow to white. This is a normal process of healing and does not indicate a problem unless the lochia is foul-smelling, heavy, or contains large clots³.

Choice B is not correct because fatigue and irritability are not signs of postpartum complications. Fatigue and irritability are common feelings after childbirth due to hormonal changes, sleep deprivation, physical recovery, and emotional adjustment. They do not necessarily indicate a problem unless they are severe or persistent and interfere with daily functioning or bonding with the baby.

Choice D is not correct because contractions are not signs of postpartum complication. Contractions are normal after childbirth and help the uterus shrink back to its pre-pregnancy size. They are usually mild and subside within a few days. They may be more intense during breastfeeding due to the release of oxytocin, which stimulates uterine contractions.