Advantages of Breastfeeding, Physical Changes During Pregnancy, Child Health and Nursing Interventions

This nursing assignment discusses the advantages of breastfeeding for mothers and infants, physical changes during pregnancy, child health, and nursing interventions for separation anxiety, fever management, and social characteristics affecting child health.

Running head: NURSING ASSIGNMENT
1
Nursing Assignment
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
STUDENT NAME, STUDENT NUMBER, UNIT CODE 1

NURSING ASSIGNMENT 2
Nursing Assignment
Question 1
Breastfeeding is advantageous to both mothers and babies. Breastfeeding helps mothers
to easily reduce weight. It helps in burning down calories. Typically, breastfeeding aids in
releasing hormone oxytocin that helps the uterus regain its previous size prior to pregnancy. The
hormone also leads to a reduction in uterine bleeding. In the same token, breastfeeding lessens
the threat of getting ovarian as well as breast cancers. Furthermore, breastfeeding infants reduce
the chances of getting osteoporosis. Breastfeeding mothers save money and time as they are not
required to warm breastfeeding bottles or sterilize nipples. Moreover, breastfeeding aids mothers
relax as they bond with their newborn babies.
In infants, breastfeeding aids in providing nutrients. Breast milk contains proteins, fats,
vitamins and other necessary nutrients needed to ensure an infant’s growth. Breast milk is
availed in a manner which enhances faster digestion in comparison to infant formula.
Furthermore, breastfeeding reduces the chances of an infant getting allergies and asthma. Babies
who are breastfed continuously for six months devoid of using formula one are healthier
compared to those who are not breastfed. Moreover, the babies get fewer respiratory illnesses,
ear infections or instances of diarrhea.
Similarly, breastfeeding is responsible for causing increased IQ in children. Children who
are constantly breastfed averagely perform better than those who are provided with infant
formula. Breastfeeding makes sure there is physical closeness, constant touch, and frequent eye
contact. Therefore, this makes the baby feel secure hence bond easily with the mother. Infants
who are breastfed appropriately acquire the suitable weight whereas those given infant formula
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NURSING ASSIGNMENT 3
might become obese (Horta and Victora, 2013. Breastfeeding contributes to lowering infant
death. In the same token, breast milk reduces the threat of obesity, diabetes and some cancers.
Question 2
The bodies of women undergo several transformations during pregnancy. Some changes
are physical hence visible, for instance, weight gain and belly expansion. During expectation, a
woman’s nails and hair become better and attractive. Additionally, this is caused by the increase
in estrogen hormone. As the hormone levels rise in the body, it makes hair follicles to grow
faster hence causing healthier and thicker hair. Subsequently, the nails become more soft and
brittle. Likewise, these changes are as a result of frequent blood flow into the toes and fingers.
Women develop more stretch marks in their skin more so in thighs, abdomen, and
breasts. Furthermore, these stretch marks are as a result of collagen breakdown. The stretch
marks often itch. Breasts of women become more tender and full. Similarly, nipples become
sensitive especially when touched. These changes happen during the third trimester. Ligaments
and joints loosen during expectancy (Koren, 2012). Hormone relaxin is responsible for these
transformations. It aids in preparing the pelvis for labor and consequent delivery.
Question 3.
a) Alcohol intake prior or during pregnancy is harmful to the unborn baby. The
contemporary advice regarding alcohol in expectant mothers is that avoiding it is the best
approach to ensuring delivery of a healthy child.
b) Folic acid aids steer clear neutral tube defects and spina bifida. Additionally, it aids in
preventing anencephaly, a brain defect. Research shows that folic acid is imperative in
reducing other threats in a baby. For instance, cleft palate, cleft lip, and heart
complications. In the same token, it lowers the possibility of having preeclampsia in
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NURSING ASSIGNMENT 4
women (Roth, 2011). This is a blood pressure problem. Generally, the body requires folic
acid to manufacture healthy red blood cells. Therefore, this helps in preventing anemia.
Folic acid is also necessary to facilitate the functioning, repair, and production of DNA.
DNA is the body’s genetic map. In addition, sufficient folic acid is vital for the faster cell
growth in the placenta and also in the baby.
Question 4
a) Separation anxiety is normal for young children. A nurse can observe certain
behavior that shows separation anxiety. It includes nightmares, bed wetting,
frequent tantrums, and fear.
b) A nurse can mitigate separation anxiety practicing calmness and prioritizing
physical comfort for a child (Pao and Bosk, 2011). Further, the nurse can achieve
the same by being educational and providing treats, for instance, giving out a
lollipop as a reward.
Question 5
a) The most appropriate fever management for the child would be to conduct a physical
examination, medical history, and complementary test. Anti-pyretic medication may
increase body temperature hence not always recommended (Lehrnbecher, 2012).
b) A nurse can notice increased breathing rate and heart rate. Furthermore, wheezing and
grunting are signs of amplified respiratory effort.
c) The registered nurse should check if the baby’s weight is double his birth weight. The
nurse should examine the child’s motor skills like if anything picked is directly taken to
the mouth. Furthermore, it should be confirmed if the baby’s head is no longer wobbly.
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NURSING ASSIGNMENT 5
d) A child’s immune system consists of glands, fluids, cells, and organs. It aids in fighting
disease. However, it is not sufficient and immunization is required.
e) The standard fluid status in the child can be determined by checking if urine and tear
output are normal.
Question 6
A family’s social characteristics like residence place, socioeconomic status, culture and
maternal education could negatively affect the health of a child. Residence place could be prone
to frequent disease outbreaks while the family could be unable to cater for medical costs due to
its low socioeconomic status (Chandra, 2010). The culture of segregating a child more so if
affected by airborne diseases could further affect the health status of the child. Low maternal
education negatively affects health since parents may not comprehend the essence of medication.
Question 7
a) The nurse ought to discuss sex education and alcohol use. Sex education will enlighten
the girl to use protection during sex to avoid diseases and early pregnancy. Additionally,
the topic of alcohol use will help the girl reduce the usage of alcohol as it is harmful to
the body (Chandra, 2010).
b) The nurse can employ symbolic and expressive communication approaches. Symbolic
communication could entail the use of pictures when explaining the effects of alcohol. On
the other hand, Expressive communication can incorporate utilization of songs when
conversing with the young girl.
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References
Chandra, A., Martin, L. T., Hawkins, S. A., & Richardson, A. (2010). The impact of parental
deployment on child social and emotional functioning: Perspectives of school
staff. Journal of Adolescent Health, 46(3), 218-223.
Horta, B. L., Victora, C. G., & World Health Organization. (2013). Short-term effects of
breastfeeding: a systematic review on the benefits of breastfeeding on diarrhoea and
pneumonia mortality.
Koren, O., Goodrich, J. K., Cullender, T. C., Spor, A., Laitinen, K., Bäckhed, H. K., ... &
Bäckhed, F. (2012). Host remodeling of the gut microbiome and metabolic changes
during pregnancy. Cell, 150(3), 470-480.
Lehrnbecher, T., Phillips, R., Alexander, S., Alvaro, F., Carlesse, F., Fisher, B., ... & Dupuis, L.
L. (2012). Guideline for the management of fever and neutropenia in children with cancer
and/or undergoing hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation. Journal of clinical
oncology, 30(35), 4427-4438.
Pao, M., & Bosk, A. (2011). Anxiety in medically ill children/adolescents. Depression and
Anxiety, 28(1), 40-49.
Roth, C., Magnus, P., Schjølberg, S., Stoltenberg, C., Surén, P., McKeague, I. W., ... & Susser,
E. (2011). Folic acid supplements in pregnancy and severe language delay in
children. Jama, 306(14), 1566-1573.
STUDENT NAME, STUDENT NUMBER, UNIT CODE 6