A nurse is caring for a client who is 2 weeks postpartum.
The client tells the nurse, "I feel really down and sad lately.
I have no energy and I feel like I'm going to cry.”. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

The correct answer is choice b. Drying the newborn’s skin thoroughly.

Choice A rationale:

Maintaining ambient room temperature at 24° C (75° F) helps in reducing overall heat loss but does not specifically address evaporative heat loss. Evaporative heat loss occurs when moisture on the skin evaporates, cooling the skin.

Choice B rationale:

Drying the newborn’s skin thoroughly reduces evaporative heat loss by removing moisture that can evaporate and cool the skin. This is a critical action immediately after birth when the newborn is wet with amniotic fluid.

Choice C rationale:

Preventing air drafts helps reduce convective heat loss, not evaporative heat loss. Convective heat loss occurs when air currents carry heat away from the body.

Choice D rationale:

Placing the newborn on a warm surface helps reduce conductive heat loss, which occurs when the newborn’s body comes into contact with a cooler surface. This does not specifically address evaporative heat loss.

By thoroughly drying the newborn’s skin, the nurse effectively minimizes evaporative heat loss, ensuring the newborn maintains a stable body temperature.

Choice A rationale:

Maternal hypertension is the most common risk factor for placental abruption. Placental abruption is a serious condition where the placenta partially or completely separates from the uterine wall before the baby is born. This separation can lead to significant bleeding, which is a medical emergency. Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, can cause damage to the blood vessels in the placenta, making it more likely for placental abruption to occur. High blood pressure can lead to decreased blood flow to the placenta, increasing the risk of separation.

Choice B rationale:

Maternal battering, while a concerning issue during pregnancy, is not the most common risk factor for placental abruption. Placental abruption is primarily associated with maternal medical conditions and factors that affect the uterine environment.

Choice C rationale:

Maternal cigarette smoking can have adverse effects on pregnancy, but it is not the most common risk factor for placental abruption. Smoking is more commonly associated with other complications such as low birth weight and preterm birth.

Choice D rationale:

Maternal cocaine use is a risk factor for placental abruption, but it is not the most common one. Cocaine can constrict blood vessels and reduce blood flow to the placenta, increasing the risk of abruption. However, hypertension remains the most prevalent risk factor.