One day postpartum, a primiparous breastfeeding woman has an expected finding during breast assessment. Which is correct?

• A. Leakage of milk at let down
• B. A few blisters and a bruise on each areola
• C. Soft, non-tender; colostrum is present
• D. Swollen, warm, and tender upon palpation

Answer: (C)

In the first day after birth, the expected breast finding for a breastfeeding mother is that the breasts are soft and non-tender, with colostrum present. Colostrum is the initial, thick, yellowish fluid rich in antibodies that the newborn needs for protection in the first days. At this stage milk has not yet fully “come in,” so the breasts aren’t engorged or painful. That’s why soft, non-tender breasts with visible colostrum best reflects normal physiology immediately postpartum.

Leakage of mature milk at let-down suggests milk has already come in, which typically occurs a couple of days after birth. Blisters and bruising on the areola point to nipple trauma or poor latch, not a normal finding on the first day. Swollen, warm, and tender breasts indicate engorgement or mastitis, which usually develop after milk comes in, not on the very first day.