A patient who is 17 weeks pregnant shares several pieces of information with the nurse.
Which statement made by the patient would indicate the patient is at risk for having an infant with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR)?

The correct answer is choice C. The patient should palpate her breasts using the padded sections of her fingers.This is the recommended technique for breast self-examination, as it allows the patient to feel any changes or lumps in the breast tissue.

Choice A is wrong because the patient should perform breast self-examination at the same time each month, preferably a few days after the menstrual period ends when the breasts are less likely to be swollen or tender.

Choice B is wrong because the patient should not assume that any lumps that are present in both breasts are normal.Some breast cancers can affect both breasts, and any new or unusual lumps should be reported to a doctor.

Choice D is wrong because the patient should look at her breasts while standing in front of the mirror with her arms at her sides, raised overhead, and pressed firmly on her hips.She should also look for any changes in the shape, size, color, or texture of her breasts and nipples.

The correct answer is choice A. The patient has heart disease, and the antibiotics will decrease the risk to her fetus of developing endocarditis.Endocarditis is an infection of the inner lining of the heart and valves, which can be caused by bacteria entering the bloodstream during labor and delivery.Patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) are more prone to develop endocarditis because their valve leaflets are floppy and do not close tightly, creating a site for bacterial attachment.Antibiotics can help prevent this complication by killing the bacteria before they reach the heart.

Choice B is wrong because pericarditis is an inflammation of the outer layer of the heart, not the inner lining or valves.It is not related to MVP or bacterial infection.

Choice C is wrong because chorioamnionitis is an infection of the membranes and fluid that surround the fetus, not the heart.It is usually caused by bacteria ascending from the vagina or cervix, not from the bloodstream.

Choice D is wrong because delivering post-term does not increase the risk of systemic infection for the fetus.Systemic infection means infection that affects multiple organs or systems in the body, not just one specific site.