The student nurse notices that a newborn weighs less today ...

[Capo]

The student nurse notices that a newborn weighs less today compared with the newborn's birth weight three days ago. The nursing instructor explains that newborns lose weight following birth due to:
 
  1. A shift of intracellular water to extracellular spaces.
  2. Loss of meconium stool.
  3. A shift of extracellular water to intracellular spaces.
  4. The sleep-wake cycle.

Question 2

The patient has experienced a postpartum hemorrhage at 6 hours postpartum. After controlling the hemorrhage, the patient's partner asks what would cause a hemorrhage. How should the nurse respond?
 
  1. Sometimes the uterus relaxes and excessive bleeding occurs.
  2. The blood collected in the vagina and poured out when your partner stood up.
  3. Bottle-feeding prevents the uterus from getting enough stimulation to contract.
  4. The placenta had embedded in the uterine tissue abnormally.

[chereeb]

Answer to Question 1

1
Rationale 1: A shift of intracellular water to extracellular space accounts for the 5 to 10 of weight loss during the first few days of life.
Rationale 2: Loss of meconium stool does not affect this amount of weight loss.
Rationale 3: A shift of intracellular water to extracellular space accounts for the 5 to 10 of weight loss during the first few days of life.
Rationale 4: The sleep-wake cycle does not affect this amount of weight loss.

Answer to Question 2

1
Rationale 1: Uterine atony, in which the uterus relaxes, is the most common cause of early postpartum hemorrhage (within the first 24 hours after delivery).
Rationale 2: Although blood can pool in the vagina and thus pour out when the patient stands, this does not constitute a hemorrhage.
Rationale 3: Although breastfeeding stimulates the release of oxytocin, which causes the uterus to contract, bottle-feeding does not cause hemorrhage.
Rationale 4: Had the placenta embedded abnormally (as in placenta accreta), the hemorrhage would have occurred immediately after the placenta delivered.