A multiparous patient reports severe uterine cramps the first day after a vaginal delivery. The nurse is aware the patient is breastfeeding and associates the patient's pain primarily with which occurrence?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: An increase in oxytocin release related to the newborn suckling. After delivery, breastfeeding stimulates the release of oxytocin, causing uterine contractions. This helps the uterus to contract, reduce bleeding, and return to its normal size. This process can result in uterine cramps, especially in multiparous women.
B: The presence of intense afterbirth pains related to multiparity - Afterbirth pains are common in multiparous women, but they are different from uterine cramps due to breastfeeding.
C: An expected response to the daily administration of oxytocin - The patient is breastfeeding, not receiving daily oxytocin administration.
D: The efforts of the uterus to return to a prepregnancy condition - While this is true, the primary reason for the uterine cramps in this scenario is the increased oxytocin release from breastfeeding.
Nokea