The nurse assesses the postpartum patient who has not had a bowel movement by the third postpartum day. Which nursing intervention would be appropriate?
1. Encourage the new mother to be patient, saying, "It will happen soon."
2. Instruct the patient to eat a low-fiber diet.
3. Decrease fluid intake.
4. Obtain an order for a stool softener.
4
Rationale 1: Saying "It will happen soon" does not address the patient's needs and could increase the chance for constipation.
Rationale 2: Eating a low-fiber diet would not increase bulk or moisture in the stool.
Rationale 3: Decreasing fluid intake would decrease moisture in the fecal material, encouraging constipation.
Rationale 4: Obtaining an order for a stool softener is the correct intervention by the third day. The patient might fear having a bowel movement due to perineal soreness, and stool softeners would increase bulk and moisture in the fecal material, allowing for more comfortable evacuation.
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