Final answer:
An LVN will expect to see loose, seedy stools in a 1-day-old breastfed infant's diaper, as the stools transition from greenish black meconium to seedy yellow after digesting breast milk.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) caring for a 1-day-old infant who is breastfed every 2-3 hours will expect to observe loose, seedy stools when changing the infant's diaper. The newborn's first stools are typically greenish black and tarry, which is known as meconium. As the meconium is cleared, the stools transition due to the baby digesting breast milk, becoming a seedy yellow color or slightly formed tan if the infant were formula-fed.
Breast milk contains laxative properties that assist in expelling meconium from the intestines. This is crucial as it aids in reducing the risk of hyperbilirubinemia, a condition characterized by a high level of circulating bilirubin, which can result in jaundice. The proper clearing of bilirubin is essential as it could pose a risk for brain damage due to its neurotoxicity, especially since newborns are particularly vulnerable as their blood-brain barrier is not yet fully developed.