A female client returns to the clinic for her first postpartum visit and reports that she does not feel that she is bonding with her baby.
How should the practical nurse (PN) respond?

Choice A rationale

Promoting range-of-motion is typically achieved through exercises and movement. Dynamic splinting aims to maintain a specific joint position rather than actively increasing range of motion, which might be counterproductive to hip stability in developmental dysplasia.

Choice B rationale

Increasing extension would involve straightening the hip joint. In developmental dysplasia of the hip, the goal of treatment is to maintain the femoral head within the acetabulum, which often requires a flexed and abducted position, not extension.

Choice C rationale

Maintaining abduction is the primary purpose of dynamic splinting in developmental dysplasia of the hip. Abduction helps to seat the femoral head deeply into the acetabulum, promoting proper hip development and stability by stimulating acetabular ossification.

Choice D rationale

Providing immobilization implies completely restricting movement. Dynamic splinting, like the Pavlik harness, allows some movement while maintaining the abduction, flexion, and external rotation necessary for proper hip development. Full immobilization is typically not the goal for developmental dysplasia.

Choice A rationale

The last day of the last normal menstrual period would not accurately establish the estimated date of birth because calculations for gestational age commence from the onset of the cycle. Conception typically occurs around two weeks after the first day, so using the last day would lead to an underestimation of gestational age.

Choice B rationale

The average duration of menstrual periods, while providing insight into cycle regularity, does not offer the precise temporal marker needed for gestational age calculation. Nägele's rule specifically requires the first day of the last menstrual period, not the length of bleeding, to accurately estimate the delivery date.

Choice C rationale

The average frequency of menstrual periods, though indicating cycle regularity or irregularity, is not the specific data point required for estimating the delivery date. Nägele's rule relies on a fixed reference point, which is the beginning of the last menstrual cycle, not the intervals between cycles.

Choice D rationale

The first day of the last normal menstrual period (LMP) is crucial for accurately assigning an estimated date of birth (EDB) using Nägele's rule. This calculation adds 7 days to the LMP and subtracts 3 months, providing a standardized method for determining gestational age and anticipated delivery.