A nurse in the emergency department is admitting a client who is at 40 weeks of gestation, has ruptured membranes, and the nurse observes the newborn's head is crowning. The client tells the nurse she wants to push. Which of the following statements should the nurse make to the client?

a. Panting helps to control the urge to push and can slow down the delivery, which is important to prevent rapid delivery that could cause injury to both the mother and the baby. It allows the nurse or healthcare provider to better manage the delivery process.

b. Slow-paced breathing is often used during early labor to help manage pain and anxiety. However, when the baby’s head is crowning, panting is more effective in controlling the urge to push and slowing down the delivery process.

c. While deep cleansing breaths can be helpful during contractions to manage pain and focus, they are not as effective as panting in controlling the urge to push during the crowning phase.

d. While it might seem natural to encourage pushing when the baby’s head is crowning, it’s important to control the delivery to prevent rapid birth, which can cause injury to both the mother and the baby. Encouraging the mother to pant helps slow down the process, allowing for a more controlled and safer delivery.