A woman has just learned that she is pregnant. What are some ...

[pane00]

A woman has just learned that she is pregnant. What are some things the nurse should teach her about her breasts?
 
  a. She can expect her areolae to become larger and darker in color.
  b. Breasts may begin secreting milk after the fourth month of pregnancy.
  c. She should inspect her breasts for visible veins and immediately report these.
  d. During pregnancy, breast changes are fairly uncommon; most of the changes occur after the birth.

Question 2

The nurse is teaching a pregnant woman about breast milk. Which statement by the nurse is correct?
 
  a. Your breast milk is immediately present after the delivery of your baby.
  b. Breast milk is rich in protein and sugars (lactose) but has very little fat.
  c. The colostrum, which is present right after birth, does not contain the same nutrients as breast milk.
  d. You may notice a thick, yellow fluid expressed from your breasts as early as the fourth month of pregnancy.

[cpetit11]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: A
The areolae become larger and grow a darker brown as pregnancy progresses, and the tubercles become more prominent. (The brown color fades after lactation, but the areolae never return to their original color). A venous pattern is an expected finding and prominent over the skin surface and does not need to be reported. After the fourth month of pregnancy, colostrum, a thick, yellow fluid (precursor to milk), may be expressed from the breasts.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: D
After the fourth month, colostrum may be expressed. This thick yellow fluid is the precursor of milk, and it contains the same amount of protein and lactose but practically no fat. The breasts produce colostrum for the first few days after delivery. It is rich with antibodies that protect the newborn against infection; therefore, breastfeeding is important.