A nurse is assisting with the care of a client who is receiving epidural anesthesia for pain management during labor. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Choice C reason: The infant makes babbling sounds. At 6 months of age, it is typical for infants to engage in babbling sounds. Babbling is a significant milestone in language development during infancy. It involves the repetition of consonant-vowel combinations (e.g., "ba-ba,”. "ma-ma") and is an essential precursor to later language skills, such as forming words and sentences. The nurse should expect the 6-month-old infant to be making these babbling sounds as part of their normal development.

Choice A reason:

The infant has a pincer grasp. A pincer grasp is the ability to pick up small objects using the thumb and index finger. This fine motor skill typically develops around 9 to 12 months of age. At 6 months old, infants have not yet acquired the pincer grasp. Therefore, the nurse should not expect the 6-month-old infant to demonstrate this skill during the assessment.

Choice D reason:

The infant crawls on their hands and knees. Crawling is a gross motor skill that usually emerges between 7 to 10 months of age. While some infants may start crawling earlier or later, it is not a skill that is typically present in a 6-month-old. Therefore, the nurse should not anticipate the 6-month-old infant to be crawling on their hands and knees during the assessment.

Choice B reason:

The infant drops objects with the expectation of someone picking them up. This behavior, known as "object permanence,”. is a cognitive milestone that develops around 8 to 12 months of age. At 6 months old, infants have not yet fully developed this concept. They might drop objects as part of their exploratory behavior, but they do not yet understand the expectation of someone picking them up. Therefore, the nurse should not expect the 6- month-old infant to exhibit this specific behavior during the assessment.

Choice A reason:

The client stating, "This test is to check if my baby has diabetes,” indicates a misunderstanding of the purpose of the 1-hr glucose tolerance test (GTT). The test is performed to screen for gestational diabetes in the mother, not to check the baby's diabetes status. Rationale: Gestational diabetes is a condition where high blood sugar levels develop during pregnancy, and it can affect both the mother and the baby's health.

Choice B reason:

The client mentioning, "If the result is higher than normal, I will need to be on insulin the rest of my life,” demonstrates a misconception about the implications of the 1-hr GTT. The 1-hr GTT is a preliminary screening test, and if the results are higher than normal, it indicates the need for further evaluation, but it does not immediately mean a lifetime dependence on insulin. Rationale: Insulin therapy may be required for managing gestational diabetes in some cases, but not necessarily for the rest of the mother's life.

Choice C reason:

The client saying, "If I forget and eat before the test, then I won't be able to have the test done,” indicates a misunderstanding of the test procedure. The 1-hr GTT requires fasting before the test, typically for 8 to 14 hours, to get accurate results. However, if the client mistakenly eats before the test, it doesn't mean they cannot have the test done at all; they may need to reschedule it after an appropriate fasting period. Rationale: Fasting is crucial for accurate glucose level measurement during the test.

Choice D reason:

The client stating, "If the results are high, then I need another test to see if I have gestational diabetes,” demonstrates a correct understanding of the 1-hr GTT. If the initial screening test shows elevated glucose levels, further testing, such as the 3-hour glucose tolerance test (GTT), is required to confirm the diagnosis of gestational diabetes. Rationale: The 3-hour GTT is a more comprehensive diagnostic test used to confirm or rule out gestational diabetes.