A 38-year-old multigravida returns to the clinic for a routine prenatal visit at 36 weeks gestation.Assessment findings include: blood pressure 140/90 mm Hg; pulse, 80 beats/min; respiratory rate, 16 breaths/min.
The nurse suspects preeclampsia.
What additional finding would the nurse assess for?

Choice A rationale:

A postpartum temperature of 100.4°F (38.0°C) or higher may indicate an infection. Infections can occur after delivery, particularly if there was a manual extraction of the placenta, as in this case. Close monitoring and further assessment are necessary to ensure the client does not develop sepsis or other complications.

Choice B rationale:

Fundal tone should be firm and well-contracted to prevent excessive bleeding postpartum. A boggy, midline fundus suggests that the uterus is not contracting effectively, increasing the risk for postpartum hemorrhage. This requires immediate attention and intervention to ensure adequate uterine tone and control bleeding.

Choice C rationale:

Lochia should be monitored for quantity, color, and the presence of clots. Heavy lochia with small clots indicates that the client may be experiencing postpartum hemorrhage, which is a significant concern. This can be related to uterine atony, retained placental fragments, or coagulopathies and warrants prompt evaluation and intervention.

Choice D rationale:

A respiratory rate of 17/min is within the normal adult range (12-20/min) and does not require follow-up. There are no signs of respiratory distress or abnormalities in this case, indicating that the client's respiratory status is stable and does not necessitate further evaluation.

Choice E rationale:

A white blood cell count of 12,000/mm³ is within the expected range for postpartum women, where normal values can be elevated due to physiological stress and inflammation from delivery. This level does not indicate infection or pathology and does not require follow-up in the context provided.

Choice F rationale:

Blood pressure of 144/92 mmHg is elevated and concerning, particularly in a postpartum client with a history of chronic hypertension and gestational diabetes. This could signal postpartum preeclampsia or other hypertensive disorders, requiring careful monitoring and management to prevent complications like seizures, stroke, or organ damage.

Choice A rationale

Uteroplacental insufficiency typically results in late decelerations, not a sudden drop in fetal heart rate, which is more commonly caused by umbilical cord compression.

Choice B rationale

Umbilical cord compression can cause variable decelerations, which are characterized by a sudden drop in fetal heart rate. This occurs due to the umbilical cord being compressed, leading to decreased blood flow and oxygen to the fetus.

Choice C rationale

Maternal bradycardia refers to a slow maternal heart rate and does not directly cause changes in the fetal heart rate pattern.

Choice D rationale

Fetal head compression typically causes early decelerations, which are gradual decreases in fetal heart rate that occur with contractions and are usually benign.