A nurse is caring for a client who has preterm labor.

Which manifestation should the nurse identify as a complication of preterm labor?

Betamethasone is a corticosteroid that can be given to pregnant women who are at risk of preterm labor to enhance fetal lung maturity and reduce the risk of respiratory distress syndrome in the newborn.

Betamethasone stimulates the production of surfactant, a substance that helps the lungs expand and prevents them from collapsing.

Choice A is wrong because magnesium sulfate is used to prevent seizures in women with preeclampsia or eclampsia, not to enhance fetal lung maturity.

Choice B is wrong because nifedipine is a calcium channel blocker that can be used to relax the uterine muscles and inhibit contractions in preterm labor, but it does not affect fetal lung development.

Choice D is wrong because ampicillin is an antibiotic that can be used to treat infections that may cause preterm labor, such as chorioamnionitis or group B streptococcus, but it does not have any direct effect on fetal lung maturation.

Haemorrhage due to placental abruption.

Placental abruption is a serious complication of preterm labor that occurs when the placenta separates from the wall of the uterus before delivery.This can cause heavy bleeding and endanger the life of both the mother and the baby.

Choice A is wrong because increased fetal movement is not a complication of preterm labor.In fact, decreased fetal movement may indicate fetal distress.

Choice B is wrong because decreased uterine contractions are not a complication of preterm labor.Preterm labor is defined as regular contractions that result in the opening of the cervix before 37 weeks of pregnancy.

Choice D is wrong because increased cervical dilation is not a complication of preterm labor, but a sign of it.Cervical dilation indicates that the cervix is preparing for delivery and may lead to preterm birth.