Question

As part of the postpartum assessment, the nurse examines the breasts of a primiparous breastfeeding woman who is 1 day postpartum. An expected finding would be:

A. Presence of soft, nontender colostrum.
B. Leakage of milk at let-down
C. Swollen, warm, and tender on palpation.
D. A few blisters and a bruise on each areola.

Answer 1

The expected finding when examining the breasts of a primiparous breastfeeding woman who is 1 day postpartum is the presence of soft, nontender colostrum.

Step-by-step explanation:

The expected finding when examining the breasts of a primiparous breastfeeding woman who is 1 day postpartum would be the presence of soft, nontender colostrum.

Colostrum is the first milk produced by the breasts after childbirth. It is thick and yellowish in color and contains high levels of protein, antibodies, and other beneficial substances for the newborn.

Leakage of milk at let-down (Option B) typically occurs a few days after childbirth when mature milk production begins. Swollen, warm, and tender breasts (Option C) may indicate engorgement or infection, which are not expected findings 1 day postpartum. Blisters and bruises on the areola (Option D) are also not expected findings and may indicate trauma or other issues.