On day 3 of life, the mother complained to nurse that the newborn has lost weight. What is the best thing to doe?

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

KGMU Nursing Officer 2023 Memory-Based Previous Year Paper

Answer 1

Correct Answer: Assure the mother that this is normal

Rationale:

It is normal for newborns to lose weight in the first few days of life. This physiological weight loss occurs due to the loss of excess fluid accumulated during pregnancy and birth.
Typically, newborns may lose about 5-10% of their birth weight by day 3-5 of life. This weight is generally regained by the end of the second week as feeding patterns stabilize and the baby grows.
The nurse reassuring the mother that this is normal helps alleviate her concerns and provides emotional support during this critical period of adjustment for both mother and baby.
This reassurance also encourages the mother to continue focusing on feeding and bonding with the baby rather than worrying unnecessarily about weight loss.

Additional Information:

Breastfed babies may lose slightly more weight compared to formula-fed babies due to the natural learning curve of breastfeeding, but this is still within the normal range.
Monitoring the baby's hydration status, urine output, and overall activity is important during this period to ensure the baby is thriving despite the weight loss.

Explanation of Other Options:

Assess the newborn for any anomalies or diseases

Rationale: While it is crucial to assess the newborn for anomalies if there are other concerning symptoms (e.g., lethargy, poor feeding, or dehydration), weight loss alone on day 3 is typically physiological and does not warrant immediate clinical investigation unless it exceeds the normal range (more than 10% of birth weight).

Instruct the mother to increase baby's feeding

Rationale: Increasing feeding frequency may be helpful in some cases, but it is not the primary response to normal newborn weight loss. Feeding should be encouraged as per the baby's hunger cues, and undue pressure on the mother to feed excessively may lead to stress or frustration.

Inform the doctor immediately

Rationale: Weight loss within the normal range does not require immediate medical intervention. Informing the doctor may be necessary if the weight loss exceeds 10% of the birth weight or if there are other concerning signs, but this is not the case for normal physiological weight loss.

Conclusion:

The correct response to a mother's concern about normal newborn weight loss is to reassure her that this is normal, provide education about physiological weight loss, and encourage her to focus on regular feeding and bonding with the baby.
Other options may be applicable in specific cases with abnormal weight loss or additional symptoms, but they are not appropriate for normal physiological newborn weight loss.