The nurse is teaching a new mother about postpartum fatigue (PPF). Which information would the nurse include?

  1. PPF is more common in women with cesarean births.
  2. Fatigue usually improves over the first 6 weeks after birth.
  3. Fatigue can help reduce the incidence of postpartum depression.
  4. Nursing mothers can minimize fatigue by breastfeeding in the side-lying position.
Number 4 is correct.
Rationale: Comfort measures such as side positioning during breastfeeding can help minimize fatigue. There is no evidence that supports PPF as being more common in cesarean births; it is, however, associated with long labor and cesarean births. Fatigue tends to worsen over the first 6 weeks after birth. Symptoms of PPF can be interrelated with postpartum depression.