A nurse is teaching a newborn's parent how to care for the umbilical cord stump. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?

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.

Choice A reason:
Checking basal body temperature 1 hour following intercourse is not recommended as a method to determine ovulation. Intercourse and physical activity can increase body temperature, which may lead to inaccurate readings. Basal body temperature should be measured after a period of rest, not after physical activity.

Choice B reason:
The basal body temperature method involves measuring the body's at-rest temperature to identify slight changes that occur around the time of ovulation. It is most accurate when taken every morning before getting out of bed, after at least 3 hours of uninterrupted sleep, and before any physical activity, including eating or drinking. A slight increase in basal body temperature typically occurs after ovulation and remains elevated until the next menstrual period. This method requires consistency and precise timing to be effective.

Choice C reason:
Measuring basal body temperature before going to bed every night is not an effective way to track ovulation. The body's temperature fluctuates throughout the day due to various factors, including activity levels, meals, and external temperatures. Therefore, nighttime measurements would not provide the consistent, resting temperature needed to accurately detect ovulation.

Choice D reason:
While it is true that ovulation typically occurs around the middle of the menstrual cycle, which for many women is between days 13 to 17, limiting temperature checks to these days only may miss the initial rise in temperature that indicates ovulation. Ovulation can vary from cycle to cycle, and it is important to measure basal body temperature daily to detect the pattern over time.