A client who delivered a healthy newborn 4 weeks ago reports that the baby cries constantly and the mother feels overwhelmed. What is the nurse's priority response?

• A. Tell me about your baby. Where is she now?
• B. Have you discussed this with your partner?
• C. Do you have a friend who could help you?
• D. Having a newborn must be stressful. Do you have other children?

Answer: (A)

The priority is to initiate open, patient-centered communication to assess both the infant’s status and the mother’s coping in this moment. Asking, “Tell me about your baby. Where is she now?” invites the mother to describe feeding, crying patterns, sleep, safety, and how she’s managing care. This helps the nurse quickly gauge potential safety concerns for the infant and the level of support the mother needs, while building trust and encouraging the mother to share more openly.

While checking on support networks or partners can be valuable later, those questions don’t yield the immediate information about the infant’s condition and the mother’s current state that is essential for a safe, early assessment. Starting with a broad, exploratory question sets the stage for a more focused follow-up and appropriate next steps, such as evaluating for need of additional help, resources, or mental health support.