Optimistic Outlook for Newborn Care
What should the LPN expect to observe when changing the diaper of the 1-day-old newborn who is breastfed every 2-3 hours?
a) Dark green, hard stool
b) Yellow, seedy stool
c) Absence of stool
d) Watery, light brown stool
Answer:
The LPN should expect to see yellow, seedy stools.
When caring for a 1-day-old newborn who is breastfed every 2-3 hours, the LPN should expect to observe a change from dark green, hard stool to yellow, seedy stool. Initially, the newborn's first stools are comprised of meconium, which is a tarry, greenish-black substance accumulated in the fetal intestines during the second half of gestation. After the intake of breast milk begins, meconium is cleared and replaced with stools that are yellow and seedy, reflecting the digestion of breast milk.
Therefore, it is normal for the stools to transition from meconium to a seedy yellow as the newborn starts digesting breast milk. This change indicates a healthy transition in the baby's digestive system, and the LPN can feel optimistic about the baby's feeding and development.