Final answer:
The nurse should recommend the application of cold cabbage leaves for nonpharmacological pain management in a breastfeeding client with engorgement, as it helps reduce swelling by constricting blood vessels and provides a soothing effect.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a nurse is providing teaching about nonpharmacological pain management to a client who is breastfeeding and has engorgement, the nurse should recommend the application of cold cabbage leaves. Breast engorgement can occur when a woman stops breastfeeding suddenly, and the milk that is produced in the alveoli of the mammary glands is not being removed. This condition can lead to painful swelling. The application of cold cabbage leaves is believed to help reduce swelling and provide relief from engorgement.
This is because the coldness from the leaves helps to constrict blood vessels, reducing blood flow and swelling, thereby providing a soothing effect. This recommendation is a part of a nonpharmacological approach, meaning it does not involve medication, which is particularly important for breastfeeding individuals who are mindful of what enters their breast milk and could potentially affect their baby.