A nurse is teaching a new mother about signs of effective breastfeeding of her newborn. Which of the following information should the nurse include in the teaching?

Check for blood under the client's buttock. This is because lochia rubra is the normal vaginal discharge that occurs after childbirth, consisting of blood, mucus, and tissue from the placenta and the uterus lining. It is usually heavy for the first three to four days and can pool under the client's buttocks if they are lying down. Checking for blood under the buttock can help assess the amount of bleeding and prevent complications such as infection or hemorrhage.

The other choices are not correct for the following reasons:

A. Increasing the rate of the IV fluids is not necessary because the client's fundus is firm and midline, indicating that the uterus is contracting well and preventing excessive bleeding.

B. Assisting the client to ambulate is not advisable because it can increase the lochia flow and cause fainting or dizziness due to blood loss.

C. Performing fundal massage is not indicated because the fundus is already firm and midline, meaning that the uterus is adequately contracted. Massaging a firm fundus can cause pain and discomfort to the client.

Encourage the newborn to breastfeed every 2 hr. This is because breastfeeding helps the newborn to excrete bilirubin through stool and urine. Breastfeeding also prevents dehydration, which can worsen jaundice. The nurse should also monitor the newborn’s weight, hydration status, and bilirubin levels during phototherapy.

Choice A is wrong because monitoring the newborn’s blood glucose level hourly is not necessary for phototherapy.

Choice B is wrong because applying lotion to the newborn’s skin twice per day can interfere with the effectiveness of phototherapy and increase the risk of skin irritation.

Choice D is wrong because maintaining the newborn in a prone position can increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and limit the exposure of skin to light.