A primipara client gave birth vaginally to a healthy newborn girl 12 hours ago. The nurse palpates the client's fundus. Which finding would the nurse identify as expected?
two fingerbreadths above the umbilicus
two fingerbreadths below the umbilicus
at the level of the umbilicus
four fingerbreadths below the umbilicus
The Correct Answer is C
A. Two fingerbreadths above the umbilicus would be abnormal and may indicate uterine distension due to retained placental fragments or a full bladder, especially this long after delivery.
B. Two fingerbreadths below the umbilicus is typically expected 24 hours or more after delivery, not at 12 hours postpartum.
C. At the level of the umbilicus is normal and expected at about 12 hours postpartum. After delivery, the uterus rises slightly and is generally found at or near the umbilicus before it begins to descend (involute) by about 1 fingerbreadth per day.
D. Four fingerbreadths below the umbilicus would be expected several days postpartum, not within the first 12 hours.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Have her blood checked every month for the next 360 days is correct. After a molar pregnancy (also known as a hydatidiform mole), the client must have serial monitoring of hCG levels (usually monthly for 6 to 12 months) to ensure that all molar tissue has been removed and that gestational trophoblastic disease (such as choriocarcinoma) does not develop. A rising or persistently elevated hCG level can indicate malignancy.
B. Receive Rhogam with the next pregnancy may be necessary if the client is Rh-negative, but it is not specific or essential to the follow-up care for a molar pregnancy itself.
C. Seek genetic counselling with her partner before the next pregnancy is not routinely required after a molar pregnancy unless there’s a history of recurrent molar pregnancies or other genetic concerns.
D. Becoming pregnant within the year is discouraged. Pregnancy should be avoided for at least 6 to 12 months after molar pregnancy to allow for monitoring of hCG levels without interference from a new pregnancy, which could complicate interpretation of results.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Short duration of labor is not typically associated with subinvolution. In fact, prolonged labor (not short) can be a risk factor due to increased uterine fatigue.
B. Use of anesthetics is correct. The use of certain anesthetics during labor, especially those that affect uterine tone (like general anesthesia or high doses of regional anesthesia), can contribute to uterine atony, which may lead to subinvolution—a condition where the uterus does not return to its normal size after childbirth.
C. Early ambulation actually promotes uterine involution and prevents complications like thrombophlebitis, making it a protective factor, not a contributing one.
D. Breastfeeding stimulates the release of oxytocin, which causes uterine contractions and promotes involution, making it a helpful factor in preventing subinvolution.
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