Chapter 27: Newborn Nutrition and Feeding
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A new mother recalls from prenatal class that she should try to feed her newborn daughter
when she exhibits hunger cues, rather than waiting until her infant is crying frantically. Which
cue should the nurse alert this woman to regarding feeding her infant?
a.
b. The infant is making sucking motions.
c. The infant is having hiccups.
d. The infant is stretching her legs out
straight.
ANS: B The
infant is waving her arms in the air.
Sucking motions, rooting, mouthing, and hand-to-mouth motions are examples of feeding-
readiness cues. Waving the arms in the air, hiccupping, and stretching the legs out straight are
not typical hunger cues.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 729 OBJ: Nursing Process: Planning
,2. A new father is ready to take his wife and newborn son home. He proudly tells the nurse who
is discharging them that, within the next week, he plans to start feeding the infant cereal
between breastfeeding sessions. What does the nurse explain to him about beginning solid
foods before 6 months?
a. It may decrease the infant’s intake of
sufficient calories.
b. It may lead to decreased intake of breast
milk.
c. It may help the infant sleep through the
night.
d. It may limit the infant’s growth.
ANS: B
Introduction of solid foods before the infant is about 6 months of age may result in overfeeding
and decreased intake of breast milk. It is not true that feeding of solids helps infants sleep
through the night. The proper balance of carbohydrate, protein, and fat for an infant to grow
properly is in the breast milk or formula.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 753 OBJ: Nursing Process: Evaluation
3. A postpartum woman telephones about her 6-day-old infant. She is not scheduled for a weight
check until the infant is 10 days old, and she is worried about whether breastfeeding is going
well. Which is an indication of effective breastfeeding?
a. Newborn sleeps for 6 hours at a time
between feedings
b. Newborn has at least one breast milk stool
every 24 hours
c. Infant gains 30 to 60 grams per week
d. Infant has at least six wet diapers per
day
ANS: D
After day 4, when the mother’s milk comes in, the infant should have at least six sufficiently
wet diapers every 24 hours, beginning after day 5. Sleeping for 6 hours between feedings is not
an indication of whether the infant is breastfeeding well. Typically, infants sleep 2 to 4 hours
between feedings, depending on whether they are being fed on a 2- to 3-hour schedule or
cluster fed. The infant should have a minimum of three bowel movements in a 24-hour period.
Breastfed infants typically gain 20 to 28 g/day.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 735 OBJ: Nursing Process: Evaluation
, 4. A primiparous woman is delighted with her newborn son and wants to begin breastfeeding as
soon as possible. Which position best facilitates the infant’s correct latch-on?
a. With his arms folded together over his
chest
b. Curled up in a fetal position
c. With his head cupped in her hand
d. With his head and body in alignment
ANS: D
The infant’s head and body should be in correct alignment with the mother and the breast
during latch-on and feeding. Holding the infant with his arms folded together over his chest,
curled up in a fetal position, or with his head cupped in her hand are not ideal positions to
facilitate latch-on.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: pp. 730-731
OBJ: Nursing Process: Implementation
5. A breastfeeding woman develops engorged breasts at 3 days postpartum. What action would
help this woman achieve her goal of reducing the engorgement?
a. Skip feedings to let her sore breasts rest.
b. Avoid using a breast pump.
c. Breastfeed her infant frequently.
d. Reduce her fluid intake for 24 hours.
ANS: C
The mother should be instructed to attempt to feed the baby or pump frequently. Skipping
feedings may cause further swelling and discomfort. If the infant does not feed adequately and
empty the breast, the mother may pump to extract the milk and relieve some of the
discomfort. Dehydration further irritates swollen breast tissue.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 745
OBJ: Nursing Process: Implementation
6. At a 2-month well-baby examination, it was discovered that a breastfed infant had only gained
300 g in the past 4 weeks. Which will assist the baby to gain weight faster?
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A new mother recalls from prenatal class that she should try to feed her newborn daughter
when she exhibits hunger cues, rather than waiting until her infant is crying frantically. Which
cue should the nurse alert this woman to regarding feeding her infant?
a.
b. The infant is making sucking motions.
c. The infant is having hiccups.
d. The infant is stretching her legs out
straight.
ANS: B The
infant is waving her arms in the air.
Sucking motions, rooting, mouthing, and hand-to-mouth motions are examples of feeding-
readiness cues. Waving the arms in the air, hiccupping, and stretching the legs out straight are
not typical hunger cues.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 729 OBJ: Nursing Process: Planning
,2. A new father is ready to take his wife and newborn son home. He proudly tells the nurse who
is discharging them that, within the next week, he plans to start feeding the infant cereal
between breastfeeding sessions. What does the nurse explain to him about beginning solid
foods before 6 months?
a. It may decrease the infant’s intake of
sufficient calories.
b. It may lead to decreased intake of breast
milk.
c. It may help the infant sleep through the
night.
d. It may limit the infant’s growth.
ANS: B
Introduction of solid foods before the infant is about 6 months of age may result in overfeeding
and decreased intake of breast milk. It is not true that feeding of solids helps infants sleep
through the night. The proper balance of carbohydrate, protein, and fat for an infant to grow
properly is in the breast milk or formula.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 753 OBJ: Nursing Process: Evaluation
3. A postpartum woman telephones about her 6-day-old infant. She is not scheduled for a weight
check until the infant is 10 days old, and she is worried about whether breastfeeding is going
well. Which is an indication of effective breastfeeding?
a. Newborn sleeps for 6 hours at a time
between feedings
b. Newborn has at least one breast milk stool
every 24 hours
c. Infant gains 30 to 60 grams per week
d. Infant has at least six wet diapers per
day
ANS: D
After day 4, when the mother’s milk comes in, the infant should have at least six sufficiently
wet diapers every 24 hours, beginning after day 5. Sleeping for 6 hours between feedings is not
an indication of whether the infant is breastfeeding well. Typically, infants sleep 2 to 4 hours
between feedings, depending on whether they are being fed on a 2- to 3-hour schedule or
cluster fed. The infant should have a minimum of three bowel movements in a 24-hour period.
Breastfed infants typically gain 20 to 28 g/day.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 735 OBJ: Nursing Process: Evaluation
, 4. A primiparous woman is delighted with her newborn son and wants to begin breastfeeding as
soon as possible. Which position best facilitates the infant’s correct latch-on?
a. With his arms folded together over his
chest
b. Curled up in a fetal position
c. With his head cupped in her hand
d. With his head and body in alignment
ANS: D
The infant’s head and body should be in correct alignment with the mother and the breast
during latch-on and feeding. Holding the infant with his arms folded together over his chest,
curled up in a fetal position, or with his head cupped in her hand are not ideal positions to
facilitate latch-on.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: pp. 730-731
OBJ: Nursing Process: Implementation
5. A breastfeeding woman develops engorged breasts at 3 days postpartum. What action would
help this woman achieve her goal of reducing the engorgement?
a. Skip feedings to let her sore breasts rest.
b. Avoid using a breast pump.
c. Breastfeed her infant frequently.
d. Reduce her fluid intake for 24 hours.
ANS: C
The mother should be instructed to attempt to feed the baby or pump frequently. Skipping
feedings may cause further swelling and discomfort. If the infant does not feed adequately and
empty the breast, the mother may pump to extract the milk and relieve some of the
discomfort. Dehydration further irritates swollen breast tissue.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 745
OBJ: Nursing Process: Implementation
6. At a 2-month well-baby examination, it was discovered that a breastfed infant had only gained
300 g in the past 4 weeks. Which will assist the baby to gain weight faster?
