A nurse is caring for a client who is postpartum and has received methylergonovine. Which of the following findings indicates that the medication was effective?

In the scenario provided, the Apgar score is calculated as follows:

- Appearance (skin color): The newborn has a pink trunk and head with bluish hands and feet, which scores 1 point.
- Pulse (heart rate): The heart rate is 130/min, which is above 100/min, so this scores 2 points.
- Grimace response (reflex irritability): The newborn cries in response to suctioning, which scores 2 points.
- Activity (muscle tone): The newborn has flexed extremities, which scores 2 points.
- Respiration (breathing effort): The cry is weak and slow, which scores 1 point.

Adding these up gives us a total Apgar score of 8 out of a possible 10 points.

Appearance (skin color): Normally, a score of 2 is given if the entire body is pink, 1 for pink body but blue extremities, and 0 if the whole body is pale or blue. The newborn's pink trunk and head with bluish hands and feet warrant a score of 1.

Pulse (heart rate): A score of 2 is given for a heart rate above 100/min, 1 for below 100/min, and 0 if there is no heartbeat. The newborn's heart rate of 130/min earns a score of 2.

Grimace response (reflex irritability): A score of 2 is given for a sneeze, cough, or vigorous cry, 1 for a grimace or feeble cry upon stimulation, and 0 for no response. The newborn's crying in response to suctioning gets a score of 2.

Activity (muscle tone): A score of 2 is given for active motion, 1 for some muscle tone and flexion of extremities, and 0 for limpness. The newborn's flexed extremities give a score of 2.

Respiration (breathing effort): A score of 2 is given for a good, strong cry, 1 for slow or irregular breathing, and 0 for no breathing. The newborn's weak and slow cry results in a score of 1.

The Apgar score helps the healthcare team decide if the newborn needs immediate medical care. A score of 7-10 is generally normal, 4-6 fairly low, and 3 and below critically low. An Apgar score of 8 indicates that the newborn is in good health but may need some medical attention, likely due to the weak and slow cry.

Choice a reason:
Moist skin is not typically associated with SGA newborns. Newborns, in general, may have moist skin shortly after birth due to the amniotic fluid and vernix caseosa, but this is not a distinguishing characteristic of SGA infants.

Choice b reason:
A gray umbilical cord is not a finding specifically associated with SGA. The color of the umbilical cord at birth can vary, and a gray color may indicate that the cord is drying, which is a normal process after clamping and cutting the cord.

Choice c reason:
Wide skull sutures are associated with SGA infants. SGA can be a result of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), which can lead to underdevelopment of the skull bones, resulting in wider-than-normal sutures. This is because the skull may not have grown to its expected size due to the growth restriction experienced by the infant.

Choice d reason:
A protruded abdomen is not typically associated with SGA infants. In fact, SGA infants may have a scaphoid or sunken abdomen due to reduced subcutaneous fat and muscle mass. A protruded abdomen in a newborn could be a sign of other conditions such as organomegaly or gastrointestinal issues.