When assessing a newborn infant's genitalia, the nurse notices that the genitalia are somewhat engorged. The labia majora are swollen, the clitoris looks large, and the hymen is thick. The vaginal opening is difficult to visualize. The infant's mother states that she is worried about the labia being swollen. How should the nurse reply?

A) "This is a normal finding in newborns and should resolve within a few weeks."
B) "This finding could indicate an abnormality and may need to be evaluated by a physician."
C) "We will need to have estrogen levels evaluated to ensure that they are within normal limits."
D) "We will need to keep close watch over the next few days to see if the genitalia decrease in size."

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KHOO WEI XUAN BRYAN · Accepted Answer

Final Answer : A, Explanation :  It is normal for a newborn's genitalia to be somewhat engorged. A sanguineous vaginal discharge or leukorrhea is normal during the first few weeks because of the maternal estrogen effect. During the early weeks, the genital engorgement resolves, and the labia minora atrophy and remain small until puberty.

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