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?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: "The baby's sucking during breastfeeding releases the hormone oxytocin, which stimulates the uterus to contract." This response is correct because oxytocin is released during breastfeeding, causing the uterus to contract, which is a normal physiological response postpartum. This contraction-like pain is known as afterpains and is a natural process to help the uterus return to its pre-pregnancy size.
A: "I will call the doctor and let him know your concern." This response does not address the woman's question and does not provide appropriate education about the normal postpartum process.
B: "You may be getting an infection and will have to stop breastfeeding." This response is incorrect as it jumps to a conclusion without considering the normal physiological process of breastfeeding.
C: "This is normal because your uterus is shrinking back to the normal size." While this response acknowledges the normal process, it does not provide the specific mechanism behind the contraction-like pain experienced by the woman.