A postpartum mother is concerned that her newborn has not had a stool since birth. The newborn is 18 hours old. The nurse's best response is:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Passage of the first stool within 48 hours is considered normal for a newborn. It is not uncommon for a newborn to have their first stool up to 3 days after birth. It is important to educate the mother on the normal bowel patterns for her newborn and reassure her that there is no immediate cause for concern. Calling the pediatrician or assuming the newborn is dehydrated is not appropriate without further assessment.

A Postpartum Mother Is Concerned That Her Newborn Has Not