A newborn was admitted to the nursery with a complete bilateral cleft lip and palate.The physician has explained the plan of therapy and its expected good results.However,the mother refuses to see or hold her baby.What should the nurse's initial therapeutic approach be to the mother?
A) Restate what the physician has told her about plastic surgery.
B) Encourage her to express her feelings.
C) Emphasize the normalcy of her baby and the baby's need for mothering.
D) Recognize that negative feelings toward the child continue throughout childhood.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

For parents,cleft lip and cleft palate deformities can be upsetting.The nurse must place emphasis not only on the infant's physical needs but also on the parents' emotional needs.The mother needs to be able to express her feelings before she can accept her child.Although plastic surgery will need to be discussed,it is not part of the initial therapeutic approach.As the mother expresses her feelings,the nurse's actions should convey to the parents that the infant is a precious human being.The child's normalcy should be emphasized and the mother assisted to recognize the child's uniqueness.A focus on abnormal maternal-infant attachment would be inappropriate at this time.

A Newborn Was Admitted to the Nursery with a Complete