A nurse is administering betamethasone to a client who is at risk for pre-term labor at 30 weeks of gestation.

Which of the following outcomes should the nurse monitor for in the newborn?

Decreased frequency and intensity of contractions indicates that the client’s condition is improving.Preterm labor occurs when regular contractions result in the opening of your cervix before 37 weeks of pregnancy.

If preterm labor can’t be stopped, your baby will be born early and may have health problems.

Choice B is wrong because increased cervical dilation and effacement means that the cervix is thinning and opening more, which are signs of labor progression.

Choice C is wrong because increased amount and color of vaginal discharge may indicate infection, bleeding, or rupture of membranes, which are complications of preterm labor.

Choice D is wrong because decreased fetal heart rate variability means that the baby’s heart rate is not changing much, which may indicate fetal distress or hypoxia.A normal fetal heart rate variability is between 6 and 25 beats per minute.

A. Referral to community services for support.

A client in preterm labor who is being discharged from the hospital needs to have a discharge plan that includes education, follow-up care, and support services.A referral to community services for support can help the client cope with the stress and anxiety of preterm labor, access resources such as home health care or social workers, and prevent complications or recurrence of preterm labor.

B. Encouragement to smoke in moderation is wrong because smoking is harmful for both the mother and the baby.

Smoking can increase the risk of preterm labor, low birth weight, placental abruption, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).Smoking should be avoided completely during pregnancy and after delivery.

C. Instructions for heavy lifting and strenuous exercise is wrong because these activities can trigger uterine contractions and increase the risk of preterm labor.

A client in preterm labor should rest as much as possible and avoid physical exertion.The client should also avoid sexual intercourse, which can stimulate the cervix and cause bleeding or infection.

D. Recommendation to avoid kangaroo care is wrong because kangaroo care is a method of holding a newborn skin-to-skin with the mother or father.

Kangaroo care can have many benefits for preterm babies, such as improving temperature regulation, breathing, heart rate, feeding, bonding, and growth.Kangaroo care can also reduce stress and pain for both the baby and the parent.