Postpartum Care for Mom Questions Related

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A breastfeeding postpartum woman tells the nurse, "I am not sure I want to breastfeed because I notice that when I feed my baby, I have strong contraction-like pain. Is something wrong?" Which response by the nurse is most appropriate?

  • A. "I will call the doctor and let him know your concern."
  • B. "You may be getting an infection and will have to stop breastfeeding."
  • C. "This is normal because your uterus is shrinking back to the normal size."
  • D. "The baby's sucking during breastfeeding releases the hormone oxytocin, which stimulates the uterus to contract."
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because the baby's sucking during breastfeeding releases oxytocin, which stimulates the uterus to contract. This is known as the "let-down reflex" and is a normal physiological response to breastfeeding. The contraction-like pain the woman is experiencing is likely due to the uterus shrinking back to its normal size postpartum.

Choice A is incorrect because there is no need to immediately involve the doctor for this normal physiological response. Choice B is incorrect as pain during breastfeeding is not necessarily a sign of infection. Choice C is incorrect because it does not provide the specific mechanism of how breastfeeding triggers uterine contractions.