A nurse midwife is examining a client who is a primigravida at 42 weeks of gestation and states that she believes she is in labor.
Which of the following findings confirm to the nurse that the client is in labor?.

The correct answer is choice A.

Choice A rationale:

A headache is a common symptom of severe preeclampsia due to increased blood pressure in the brain.

Choice B rationale:

The presence, not absence, of clonus (a series of involuntary muscular contractions and relaxations) is a sign of severe preeclampsia.

Choice C rationale:

Oliguria, not polyuria, is a symptom of severe preeclampsia due to decreased renal perfusion.

Choice D rationale:

Tachycardia is not typically associated with preeclampsia. It could be a sign of other complications.

The correct answer is choice A.

Choice A rationale:

Fetal heart tones detected by ultrasound are a positive sign of pregnancy because they provide direct evidence of a fetus.

Choice B rationale:

Breast tenderness is a presumptive sign of pregnancy, not a positive one, as it can be caused by other conditions such as premenstrual syndrome.

Choice C rationale:

A positive urine pregnancy test is a probable sign of pregnancy, not a positive one, as it measures the presence of hCG, a hormone produced during pregnancy. However, certain medications and medical conditions can also produce hCG.

Choice D rationale:

Fatigue is a presumptive sign of pregnancy, not a positive one, as it can be caused by various other conditions such as stress or illness.