A client who is in the third trimester of pregnancy has been experiencing an exacerbation of iron-deficiency anemia in recent weeks. When providing the client with nutritional guidelines and meal suggestions, what foods would be most likely to increase the client’s iron stores?

Reasoning:

Choice A reason: Diabetes insipidus is likely due to the client’s symptoms of polyuria, thirst, and weight loss following a head injury. Trauma can disrupt the posterior pituitary, reducing ADH secretion, leading to excessive dilute urine output, dehydration, and subsequent thirst and weight loss from fluid depletion, consistent with central DI.

Choice B reason: A pituitary tumor may cause diabetes insipidus but is not the condition itself. Tumors can disrupt ADH production, but the symptoms described—polyuria, thirst, and weight loss—point directly to diabetes insipidus as the primary condition, with a tumor being a potential underlying cause requiring further investigation.

Choice C reason: Hypothyroidism, caused by thyroid hormone deficiency, leads to symptoms like fatigue and weight gain, not polyuria or weight loss. It is unrelated to head injury or ADH dysfunction, making it an unlikely diagnosis for the client’s symptoms of excessive urine output and dehydration.

Choice D reason: SIADH causes water retention, leading to concentrated urine, hyponatremia, and potential weight gain, opposite to the client’s symptoms of dilute urine, weight loss, and thirst. Head injury may cause SIADH, but the clinical presentation aligns with diabetes insipidus, not water retention.

Reasoning:

Choice A reason: Administering aspirin is contraindicated in DIC, as it inhibits platelet function, worsening bleeding risk in a condition already characterized by thrombocytopenia and coagulopathy. Aspirin’s antiplatelet effect could exacerbate hemorrhage, making it an inappropriate intervention for a client with active DIC-related bleeding tendencies.

Choice B reason: Placing a pressure-reducing mattress is appropriate in DIC to prevent skin breakdown, as clients are at risk for bleeding and bruising due to low platelets and coagulopathy. Immobility from critical illness increases pressure injury risk, and a specialized mattress minimizes tissue damage and supports skin integrity.

Choice C reason: Administering meperidine intramuscularly is inappropriate in DIC, as intramuscular injections can cause hematomas due to low platelets and impaired clotting. Pain management in DIC should use intravenous or oral routes to avoid bleeding complications, making this intervention unsafe for the client’s condition.

Choice D reason: Lemon-glycerin swabs for mouth care are not ideal in DIC, as they can dry mucous membranes, increasing bleeding risk in thrombocytopenic clients. Gentle oral care with saline or soft brushes is preferred to maintain mucosal integrity, making this intervention less appropriate for DIC management.