Question

Charlotte is a 27-year-old G1P1 who just gave birth to a healthy female infant at 39 weeks of gestation. The baby is now 20 minutes old and has transitioned well. Charlotte wants to breastfeed her infant because she has read about the benefits of breastfeeding. Her mother and sisters who are present have not breastfed and are not convinced of any benefit because their children were also healthy. The father of the baby is not involved.

a) What can the nurse do now to help Charlotte succeed in breastfeeding?

b) Charlotte’s mother comments that she doesn’t think the baby got enough to eat from the first breastfeeding attempt. Charlotte agrees and feels that she doesn’t have any milk yet. The baby latched on to both nipples well and sucked effectively for 15 minutes on each side. The infant now is crying, and Charlotte’s mother requests a bottle of formula. How can the nurse address this situation?

c)It is now Day 2 after birth and Charlotte is complaining of sore nipples. How should the nurse evaluate this complaint?

d) What nursing interventions can assist Charlotte with sore nipples?

e) What additional nursing interventions may be helpful for Charlotte prior to hospital discharge?

Answer 1

A)The main help the nurse can provide Charlotte is word of advice.The nurse should explain the things which help Charlotte in breast feeding.Information include how to hold the baby while nursing,being comfortable during feeding,relaxing ,let the baby determine the time for feeding and taking care of the skin is necessary and leaking is common.

B)The best thing is teaching Charlotte.The nurse should tell Charlotte and her mother that during early stages there will be small amount of milk in breasts and milk will increase during the suckling.So Charlotte should continue to be patient and breast feed so the milk quantity will increase.

C)The nurse should evaluate the nipple for trauma.If redness,blisters and nipples are seen cracked then they are in trauma.Minor nipple trauma can be treated with antibiotics and the signs include redness and abscess.And nipple trauma is in worse condition then doctor should be made aware and treatment is given.

To reduce sore nipples.Before feeding the breast should be given a massage so milk flow can be easily done and to sooth the sore nipples warm washcloth is applied.

D).Nursing interventions for sore nipples include.

Correct position of the infant during feeding.

Nipples should be air dryed after feeding.

Ointments should be applied.

E)Prior to discharge Charlotte should be made aware how to deal with sleepy baby during feeding.The baby should be awake during feeding by lightly playing with the babies hair or rubbing the baby back so they can be awake and can be able to get the nutrients.

Charlotte should eat required food to get nutrients so that there will be no complications.