Question

The mother of a 3-month-old with esophageal reflux asks the nurse what she can do to lessen the baby's reflux. The nurse should tell the mother to: A. Feed the baby only when he is hungry B. Burp the baby after the feeding is completed C. Place the baby supine with head elevated D. Burp the baby frequently throughout the feeding

Short answer

Answer: D. Burp the baby frequently throughout the feeding.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding the answer choices:

Here are the given answer choices: A. Feed the baby only when he is hungry. B. Burp the baby after the feeding is completed. C. Place the baby supine with head elevated. D. Burp the baby frequently throughout the feeding.

Identifying the best answer:

To reduce the baby's reflux, the most effective method should minimize the amount of air swallowed during feeding, and minimize the chance of stomach contents coming back up due to pressure. Given these considerations: - Answer A (feed the baby only when he is hungry) would not specifically address reflux but it's a general advice. - Answer B (burp the baby after the feeding is completed) would not be as effective since it's only after the feeding. - Answer C (place the baby supine with head elevated) helps to lessen the reflux by using gravity to keep stomach contents down, but might not address the air swallowed. - Answer D (burp the baby frequently throughout the feeding) allows for the release of any swallowed air during feeding, preventing air from pushing stomach contents up the esophagus, making it a more effective solution for reducing esophageal reflux.

Conclusion:

The most effective way for the mother to lessen her 3-month-old baby's reflux issues is to: D. Burp the baby frequently throughout the feeding.