High School

A parent, G1P1001, has just returned home after giving birth to their first child 5 days ago. The birth was complicated by an emergency cesarean procedure resulting from incomplete cervical dilation and hemorrhage. The nurse determines that the parent has not slept longer than 3 hours at one time. What nursing concern will the nurse identify for planning this parent's care?

a) Risk for ineffective coping related to lack of sleep
b) Risk for impaired physical mobility related to cesarean procedure
c) Risk for altered urinary elimination related to hemorrhage
d) Risk for impaired parenting related to incomplete cervical dilation

Answer :

The nursing concern identified for planning this parent's care is: Risk for ineffective coping related to lack of sleep. Thus, the correct answer is Option A.

The nursing concern identified is the risk for ineffective coping due to lack of sleep postpartum.

The parent's sleep deprivation is significant as it has not only short-term impacts but potential long-term effects on the ability to cope effectively with the stressors of new parenthood, recovery from a cesarean section, and managing any complications that have arisen from the birth experience.

Sleep is essential for physical recovery and mental health, allowing the body to heal and the mind to process the emotional experience of childbirth. It's important to support this parent by providing opportunities for rest, teaching stress-reduction techniques, and monitoring for signs of postpartum depression, which can be exacerbated by sleep deprivation.

As Kathy Lee, a nursing professor specializing in pregnancy and sleep, indicates, pregnant women are also "sleeping for two" and poor sleep can have serious consequences, such as difficult labors and increased risk of cesarean sections.

Hence, the correct answer is: Option A.