A nurse is monitoring a patient in labor who has received epidural anesthesia for pain management. What should the nurse recognize as a potential complication from the epidural block?

Choice A rationale
Limiting noise and interruption in the delivery room can help create a calm environment, which can be beneficial for both the mother and the newborn. However, this is not the priority action for promoting maternal-infant bonding.
Choice B rationale
Encouraging parents to touch and explore the neonate’s features can help foster a connection between the parents and the newborn. This tactile stimulation can also be comforting for the newborn. However, this is not the most immediate action to promote maternal-infant bonding.
Choice C rationale
Placing the neonate skin-to-skin on the client’s chest is the priority action. Skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth helps regulate the newborn’s temperature, heart rate, and breathing. It also promotes breastfeeding and bonding.
Choice D rationale
Placing the neonate at the client’s breast can promote breastfeeding, which can enhance maternal-infant bonding. However, this is not the first action to take. The priority is to establish skin-to-skin contact.

Choice A rationale
While it’s true that some changes in the breast, such as dimpling or discharge, can occur with age, these are not normal and could be signs of a serious condition like breast cancer.
Therefore, this instruction should not be included in the pamphlet.
Choice B rationale
While using the palm of the hand to feel for lumps using a circular motion is a common method, it’s not the most effective. The pads of the three middle fingers should be used instead, as they are more sensitive to changes in the breast tissue.
Choice C rationale
This is the correct answer. Performing a breast self-exam in the shower with soapy hands is recommended because the soap helps your fingers glide smoothly over your skin, making it easier to feel for any lumps or changes.
Choice D rationale
While it’s true that women who have a menstrual cycle should perform a breast self-exam every month, the timing suggested here is not accurate. The best time to perform a breast self- exam is a few days after the menstrual period ends, when the breasts are less likely to be tender or swollen.