Maternal Newborn Nursing Test Breastfeeding and Infant Nutrition 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A new mother reports that her breastfed newborn is 3 days old and her milk has not yet 'come in.' What is the appropriate nursing response?
- Reassure her that colostrum is sufficient for the newborn at this stage and milk transition occurs by days 3–5 (Correct answer)
- Recommend supplementing with formula immediately
- Advise stopping breastfeeding and switching to formula
- Contact the provider to prescribe galactogogues
Correct answer: Reassure her that colostrum is sufficient for the newborn at this stage and milk transition occurs by days 3–5
Transitional milk replaces colostrum between days 3–5 postpartum; colostrum provides all the nutrition and immunological factors a newborn needs in the first days.
Question 2: Which newborn behavior indicates readiness to breastfeed?
- Rooting, hand-to-mouth movements, and suckling motions while awake (Correct answer)
- Deep sleep with no body movement
- Crying for more than 10 minutes continuously
- Hiccupping after a feeding
Correct answer: Rooting, hand-to-mouth movements, and suckling motions while awake
Early feeding cues (rooting, sucking motions, hand-to-mouth activity) indicate hunger and readiness to feed; crying is a late hunger cue that makes latching more difficult.
Question 3: A breastfeeding mother reports severe nipple pain throughout the entire feeding. What is the most likely cause?
- Incorrect latch with the infant only on the nipple, not the areola (Correct answer)
- Normal breast engorgement
- Overactive let-down reflex
- Nipple shield use
Correct answer: Incorrect latch with the infant only on the nipple, not the areola
Persistent nipple pain throughout feeding almost always indicates a poor latch; the infant should have most of the areola in the mouth, not just the nipple.
Question 4: Which maternal condition is a contraindication to breastfeeding?
- HIV infection in the United States (Correct answer)
- Well-controlled hypothyroidism
- Gestational diabetes that has resolved
- History of mastitis treated successfully
Correct answer: HIV infection in the United States
In the US, HIV-positive mothers are advised not to breastfeed because HIV can be transmitted through breast milk; in resource-limited settings, guidance differs.
Question 5: A nurse is teaching a mother about breast engorgement. Which measure is most effective for relief?
- Frequent feeding or pumping to empty the breasts, with warm compresses before and cold packs after feeds (Correct answer)
- Binding the breasts tightly to suppress milk production
- Restricting fluid intake to reduce milk production
- Applying cabbage leaves permanently without feeding
Correct answer: Frequent feeding or pumping to empty the breasts, with warm compresses before and cold packs after feeds
Frequent, effective milk removal through feeding or pumping is the most effective treatment for engorgement; warmth before feeds promotes let-down and cold packs after reduce swelling.
Question 6: A breastfed newborn at 5 days of life has 7 wet diapers and 3 yellow, seedy stools per day. The mother is concerned about the frequency of stools. What should the nurse tell her?
- This is a normal stool pattern for a breastfed newborn and indicates adequate milk intake (Correct answer)
- The newborn likely has diarrhea and should be seen by the provider
- Formula supplementation is needed to firm up the stools
- Reduce the frequency of breastfeeding sessions
Correct answer: This is a normal stool pattern for a breastfed newborn and indicates adequate milk intake
Breastfed infants normally have frequent, loose, yellow, seedy stools — 3 or more per day by day 4 — and multiple wet diapers indicating adequate feeding.
