A nurse is caring for a term newborn male client who is 72 hours old in the neonatal intensive care unit. The newborn was born after a precipitous vaginal birth at 39 weeks of gestation. The mother has a history of opioid use during pregnancy.

Exhibits

The nurse is assessing the newborn 24 hours later. For each finding, specify whether the finding is unrelated to the diagnosis, a sign of potential improvement, or a sign of potential worsening condition.

Choice A rationale
Hypotension is a known adverse effect of epidural analgesia. The epidural can block sympathetic nerve fibers, which can lead to vasodilation and a drop in blood pressure.
Choice B rationale
A maternal temperature of 37.4 C (99.4 F) is within the normal range and is not typically a cause for concern. While epidural analgesia can potentially cause a slight increase in body temperature, a significant fever is not a common side effect.
Choice C rationale

Polyuria, or excessive urination, is not a typical side effect of epidural analgesia. While the epidural can affect nerve signals to the bladder, it does not typically cause the kidneys to produce more urine.
Choice D rationale
A fetal heart rate of 152/min is within the normal range for a fetus (110-160 beats per minute). While epidural analgesia can potentially affect the baby’s heart rate if it causes significant maternal hypotension, a heart rate of 152/min is not indicative of a problem. CytomegalovirusCytomegalovirus Explore

Choice A rationale
A blood pressure of 88/40 mm Hg is significantly lower than the normal range, which could indicate hemorrhage. Hypotension is a common sign of significant blood loss.
Choice B rationale
Moderate rubra lochia is normal within the first few days postpartum and does not necessarily indicate hemorrhage.
Choice C rationale
A heart rate of 90/min is within the normal range and does not indicate hemorrhage.

Choice D rationale
A urinary output of 40 mL/hr is within the normal range and does not indicate hemorrhage.