A nurse is assisting in the care of a client at 35 weeks of gestation who has preeclampsia with severe features and is scheduled for an immediate induction of labor after the manifestations worsened. The client is upset because the provider has disregarded their birth plan.
Which of the following considerations should the nurse implement for the client?
Expectant management protocols.
Method of birth.
Shared decision-making.
Antenatal steroid administration.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A rationale
Expectant management protocols involve close monitoring and delaying delivery to allow for fetal maturation, typically used in stable preeclampsia before 34 weeks. However, this client has preeclampsia with severe features and worsening manifestations at 35 weeks, making immediate delivery the medically indicated course of action to prevent maternal stroke or seizure. Expectant management is no longer appropriate when the maternal condition is deteriorating, as the only definitive cure for the disease is delivery.
Choice B rationale
The method of birth refers to the choice between a vaginal delivery and a cesarean section. While this is an important clinical decision, the question focuses on the psychological distress of the client regarding their disregarded birth plan. Simply deciding the method of birth does not address the lack of autonomy the client feels. The medical priority is the induction for safety, but the nurse must find ways to integrate the client's preferences within those safety constraints.
Choice C rationale
Shared decision-making is a collaborative process that allows the client and healthcare team to make decisions together, even in emergency or high-risk situations. By implementing this, the nurse can explain the medical necessity of the induction while asking the client which parts of their original birth plan can still be honored, such as lighting, music, or support persons. This reduces the client's sense of powerlessness and ensures they remain an active participant in their care.
Choice D rationale
Antenatal steroid administration, such as betamethasone, is used to enhance fetal lung maturity in pregnancies less than 34 weeks of gestation when preterm birth is imminent. Since this client is currently at 35 weeks of gestation, the benefit of steroids is significantly diminished, and the urgent need for delivery due to worsening severe preeclampsia features takes precedence. Administering steroids does not address the client's emotional distress or the conflict regarding the birth plan.
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Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Induction of labor at 36 weeks is not a standard requirement for clients with thrombophilia unless other obstetric complications like severe preeclampsia or fetal growth restriction are present. Late preterm delivery carries risks of respiratory distress and jaundice for the neonate. Management usually focuses on anticoagulation therapy until the onset of labor or a scheduled induction closer to full term, typically between 39 and 40 weeks, to ensure fetal lung maturity and better neonatal outcomes.
Choice B rationale
Thrombophilia in pregnancy significantly increases the risk of fetal loss, including recurrent miscarriage and stillbirth. The hypercoagulable state can lead to the formation of microthrombi within the placental vasculature, which impairs uteroplacental perfusion. Reduced blood flow restricts the delivery of oxygen and essential nutrients to the developing fetus. This ischemic environment can result in placental abruption, intrauterine growth restriction, or fetal death, necessitating close monitoring and often pharmacological intervention with heparin-based medications.
Choice C rationale
While fetal surveillance is necessary for high-risk pregnancies, starting weekly non-stress tests specifically at 36 weeks is not the universal protocol for thrombophilia alone. The timing and frequency of antenatal testing are individualized based on the specific type of thrombophilia and the presence of other risk factors. Non-stress tests assess the fetal heart rate pattern in response to movement, providing data on fetal oxygenation. If placental insufficiency is suspected earlier, testing might begin sooner than 36 weeks.
Choice D rationale
Weekly fetal monitoring typically begins between 32 and 34 weeks of gestation for clients with thrombophilia to detect early signs of placental insufficiency. Monitoring often includes non-stress tests and biophysical profiles to evaluate fetal well-being. By 32 weeks, the risk of placental vascular complications increases as the metabolic demands of the fetus grow. Early detection of fetal distress allows for timely interventions, such as adjusting medication or planning for delivery if the intrauterine environment becomes unsafe.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Maternal age at the extremes of the reproductive spectrum is a known risk factor for hydatidiform mole. Specifically, women younger than 15 years or older than 35 to 40 years are at the highest risk. A 20-year-old client falls within the typical low-risk age range for this gestational trophoblastic disease. The biological mechanism involves higher rates of abnormal fertilization or gamete quality at very young or advanced maternal ages, which is not applicable here.
Choice B rationale
Parity does not serve as a primary independent risk factor for the development of a molar pregnancy. Both primigravida and multigravida clients can develop this condition, which results from an abnormal fertilization event where the paternal genetic material duplicates or two sperm fertilize an empty egg. While previous obstetric history is important, the status of being in a first pregnancy does not specifically increase the baseline physiological risk for trophoblastic proliferation compared to subsequent pregnancies.
Choice C rationale
While a history of miscarriage or spontaneous pregnancy loss may slightly correlate with future molar pregnancies in some studies, a history of a single induced abortion is not considered a primary or significant risk factor for hydatidiform mole. Molar pregnancies are chromosomal accidents occurring at the time of conception. Previous elective terminations do not typically alter the genetic or hormonal environment of the uterus in a way that predisposes the client to molar gestations in future pregnancies.
Choice D rationale
A history of infertility is clinically associated with an increased risk of molar pregnancy. This correlation may be linked to underlying ovulatory dysfunction or the use of ovulation-inducing medications, which can occasionally result in abnormal fertilization events. Additionally, clients struggling with infertility may have chromosomal irregularities in their oocytes. Since a molar pregnancy is characterized by the overgrowth of trophoblastic tissue due to genetic errors during fertilization, any history of reproductive challenges is a relevant risk factor.
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