The nurse assesses a mother's bonding with her new baby. Which action made by the mother does the nurse identify as the initial maternal phase/postpartum adjustment.

A. Asking questions about infant care is part of the taking-hold phase, which follows the initial postpartum phase. B. In the taking-in phase (initial maternal phase), the mother is focused on herself, reliving and talking about the birth experience. This helps her process the labor and delivery before shifting focus to the newborn. C. Baby blues can occur in the postpartum period but are not a defining characteristic of the initial maternal phase. D. Responding to the infant’s needs occurs in the taking-hold and letting-go phases, which happen later in postpartum adjustment.