A client who has just given birth to a healthy newborn required an episiotomy. Which action would the nurse implement immediately after birth to decrease the client's pain from the procedure?

A. Fluid replacement is important for maintaining maternal and fetal circulation, but it is not the priority immediately following a seizure. Oxygenation and stabilizing the mother’s condition are more critical in the acute phase.

B. Birth of the fetus may become necessary if the mother’s condition worsens, but the immediate priority is stabilizing the mother and ensuring proper oxygenation to prevent further complications for both the mother and fetus.

C. Oxygenation is the priority intervention after a seizure in eclampsia. Seizures can lead to a decrease in oxygen levels, and ensuring adequate oxygenation is crucial for both the mother and fetus. The nurse should administer oxygen to support breathing and prevent hypoxia.

D. Control of hypertension is essential in managing eclampsia, but the immediate focus should be on stabilizing the mother post-seizure, which includes ensuring adequate oxygenation first. Once stabilized, antihypertensive medications can be administered as necessary.

A. "Let me check your vaginal discharge just to make sure everything is fine." While it's important to monitor for abnormal discharge (such as signs of infection or retained placental tissue), this response does not address the cause of the contractions, which are a normal postpartum occurrence.

B. "Your body is responding to the events of labor, just like after a tough workout." This statement doesn't accurately explain the specific cause of the contractions, which are related to hormonal changes after childbirth rather than residual effects of labor itself.

C. "Your uterus is still shrinking in size; that's why you're feeling this pain." While it’s true that the uterus is shrinking (involution), the primary reason for the contraction-like pain is the release of oxytocin during breastfeeding, not simply the shrinking of the uterus.

D. "The baby's sucking releases a hormone that causes the uterus to contract." This is the correct answer. When a newborn suckles at the breast, it stimulates the release of oxytocin, a hormone that causes the uterus to contract. These contractions are known as "afterpains" and are more common in women who have had multiple pregnancies. They help the uterus return to its normal size after delivery.