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 C.

Choice A rationale:

While it’s important to monitor a newborn’s glucose level, it’s not the immediate priority following birth.

Choice B rationale:

Placing the infant in the bassinet is not the immediate priority. The newborn needs to be dried and warmed first to prevent hypothermia.

Choice C rationale:

Drying the newborn and placing it skin-to-skin on the mother helps prevent hypothermia and promotes bonding. This is the immediate priority.

Choice D rationale:

A full head-to-toe assessment is important, but it’s not the immediate priority following birth.

The correct answer is choice C.

Choice A rationale:

Keeping the baby’s head covered helps to prevent heat loss, as newborns lose a significant amount of heat through their heads.

Choice B rationale:

Keeping the baby’s bassinet away from fans and air conditioning helps to maintain a stable body temperature.

Choice C rationale:

Newborns’ temperatures are typically checked every 3 to 4 hours, not every hour, and are usually done axillary, not rectally.

Choice D rationale:

Placing the baby on the mother’s stomach and covering her with a warm blanket promotes skin-to-skin contact and helps to maintain the baby’s body temperature.