# A postpartum nurse is teaching the parents of a 3-day-old term newborn who is being discharged home. The newborn has visible jaundice on the face and upper chest, is breastfeeding every 2 to 3 hours with good latch, and has 6 wet diapers and 3 yellow stools in the past 24 hours. The bilirubin level is 12 mg/dL (205 µmol/L), which is below the phototherapy threshold. Which parent statement indicates a need for further teaching?

> source: MyMerci (mymerci.kr)  
> url: https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=505786&lang=en  
> language: en  
> subject: Health Promotion and Maintenance  
> category: HPM

## Question

A postpartum nurse is teaching the parents of a 3-day-old term newborn who is being discharged home. The newborn has visible jaundice on the face and upper chest, is breastfeeding every 2 to 3 hours with good latch, and has 6 wet diapers and 3 yellow stools in the past 24 hours. The bilirubin level is 12 mg/dL (205 µmol/L), which is below the phototherapy threshold. Which parent statement indicates a need for further teaching?

## Option

1. We will wake the baby to feed if it has been 3 hours since the last feeding.
2. We will keep the follow-up appointment with the pediatrician in 2 days to recheck the bilirubin.
3. We will watch for jaundice spreading to the baby's legs and call the doctor if that happens.
4. We will stop breastfeeding and switch to formula until the yellow color fades. **✔ Correct answer**

**Correct answer: 4**

## Explanation

The correct response is the statement about stopping breastfeeding and switching to formula, because frequent effective feeding—preferably breastfeeding—is essential to promote stooling and lower bilirubin levels in physiologic jaundice; discontinuing breastfeeding is not indicated and may reduce intake. Waking the baby to feed every 3 hours supports adequate intake and bilirubin excretion. Scheduling a follow-up bilirubin check in 2 days aligns with guidelines for monitoring jaundice after discharge. Reporting jaundice that spreads to the lower body is appropriate, as it may signal rising bilirubin levels requiring evaluation.

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