A nurse is caring for a client who is 12 hours postpartum.
The nurse recognizes the client is in the dependent, taking-in phase of maternal postpartum adjustment.
Which of the following is an expected finding during this period?
The client shows interest in learning about newborn care.
The client expresses concern about managing at home.
The client is eager to share her birth story.
The client is focused on her own needs and recovery.
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A rationale:
During the taking-in phase, which typically lasts 2-3 days postpartum, the client's primary focus is on herself and her own
needs. She may be physically exhausted and emotionally overwhelmed by the birthing experience.
Interest in learning about newborn care is more characteristic of the taking-hold phase, which begins around the third day
postpartum.
Choice B rationale:
Concerns about managing at home are more likely to arise during the letting-go phase, which begins around the fourth week
postpartum.
During this phase, the mother is adjusting to her new role and responsibilities, and she may feel anxious about her ability to
care for her baby on her own.
Choice C rationale:
While some mothers may be eager to share their birth stories during the taking-in phase, it is not a universal characteristic of
this phase.
Many mothers are still processing their experiences and may not be ready to talk about them in detail.
Choice D rationale:
The focus on personal needs and recovery is a hallmark of the taking-in phase.
The mother is typically preoccupied with physical comfort, rest, and nourishment.
She may also be emotionally labile, experiencing a range of emotions from euphoria to sadness.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Significance of retraction: Retraction of the fetal head against the maternal perineum is a crucial sign that the fetal shoulders
are about to be delivered. It indicates that the fetal head has fully descended into the pelvic outlet and is ready to rotate and
deliver the shoulders.
Urgency of preparation: It's essential for the nurse to promptly prepare for the delivery of the shoulders to ensure a safe and
timely birth:
Gather necessary equipment, including sterile gloves, towels, and possibly a suction bulb.
Position the mother appropriately, often in a semi-sitting or lithotomy position, to facilitate delivery.
Support the perineum to reduce tearing and guide the delivery of the shoulders.
Communicate with the mother to encourage effective pushing and maintain clear instructions throughout the process.
Anticipate potential complications, such as shoulder dystocia, and be prepared to assist with maneuvers to resolve it if
necessary.
Choice B rationale:
Rest during second stage: While rest is important during labor, encouraging rest between contractions at this specific point
(retraction of the head) could delay the delivery of the shoulders, potentially increasing risks for both mother and baby.
Maintaining momentum: The second stage of labor typically involves active pushing and uterine contractions to facilitate
delivery. Resting at this stage could interrupt the natural progression of labor.
Choice C rationale:
Role of blood pressure monitoring: Monitoring blood pressure is essential throughout labor to detect potential complications
like preeclampsia or hemorrhage. However, in this specific scenario, where the fetal head is already retracted and the
shoulders are imminent, preparing for delivery takes priority over routine blood pressure checks.
Choice D rationale:
Oxygen administration: Oxygen is sometimes administered during labor to support the mother's and baby's oxygen levels.
However, it's not a standard intervention for all laboring women, and its necessity would be based on individual assessments
and clinical judgment. In the absence of specific indications for oxygen, such as maternal distress or fetal heart rate concerns,
it's not the priority action when the fetal head is retracted and delivery of the shoulders is impending.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Increasing fluid intake is not the priority action in this situation. While maintaining adequate hydration is important for
postpartum recovery, it does not directly address the immediate concern of excessive bleeding. Excessive fluid intake could
potentially worsen the bleeding by increasing blood volume and potentially increasing blood pressure.
Choice C rationale:
Helping the client use the bedpan to urinate is not the priority action in this case. While a full bladder can sometimes interfere
with uterine contraction and contribute to postpartum bleeding, it is not the most likely cause of the excessive bleeding in this
scenario. The client has already saturated two perineal pads in a short period, indicating a more significant bleeding issue that
needs to be addressed first.
Choice D rationale:
Preparing to administer tocolytic medication is not the appropriate action at this time. Tocolytic medications are used to stop
contractions, but they are not typically used to manage postpartum hemorrhage. In fact, tocolytics could potentially worsen
the bleeding by interfering with the natural mechanisms that help the uterus contract and stop bleeding after delivery.
Choice B rationale:
Checking the consistency of the client's uterine fundus is the priority action in this situation. The most common cause of
postpartum hemorrhage is uterine atony, which means the uterus is not contracting effectively to clamp down on the blood
vessels where the placenta was attached. A soft, boggy fundus is a sign of uterine atony. By assessing the fundus, the nurse can
quickly determine if uterine atony is the likely cause of the bleeding and take appropriate interventions to manage it.
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