The nurse is providing care for a child with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
What characteristic manifestation should the nurse expect to observe?

Choice A rationale

Acupressure involves applying pressure to specific points on the body, aiming to stimulate energy flow and relieve pain. While it can promote relaxation and analgesia by releasing endorphins, its direct effect on significantly reducing blood pressure and respiratory rate in acute anxiety may be less pronounced compared to methods emphasizing controlled breathing techniques.

Choice B rationale

Effleurage is a light, stroking massage, typically applied to the abdomen during contractions. This technique can distract from pain and promote relaxation by stimulating large nerve fibers, thereby reducing pain perception. However, its primary physiological impact is generally on pain modulation and comfort, rather than a direct, strong reduction in elevated blood pressure and respiratory rate.

Choice C rationale

The Bradley method, also known as "husband-coached childbirth," emphasizes natural childbirth, focusing on deep abdominal breathing, relaxation, and partner support. While it promotes a calm environment and can reduce overall stress, its specific techniques for immediate physiological regulation of acutely elevated blood pressure and erratic respirations may not be as direct as methods specifically teaching controlled breathing.

Choice D rationale

The Lamaze method focuses on controlled breathing and relaxation techniques during labor. These techniques, particularly patterned breathing, directly influence the autonomic nervous system by increasing vagal tone, which can lead to a decrease in heart rate and respiratory rate, thereby lowering blood pressure and promoting a sense of calm during periods of anxiety.

Choice E rationale

Yoga incorporates physical postures, breathing exercises (pranayama), and meditation. While highly effective for long-term stress reduction and improving cardiovascular health, its immediate application in a laboring client experiencing acute anxiety with elevated vital signs might be less practical for immediate physiological regulation compared to targeted breathing methods like Lamaze.

Choice A rationale

A calm environment in the client's room reduces sensory overstimulation and promotes relaxation. This physiological state minimizes sympathetic nervous system activation, thereby reducing the perception of pain and allowing the client to better cope with labor contractions through a less intense physiological response.

Choice B rationale

Maintaining privacy during labor provides the client with a sense of security and control, which can reduce anxiety and stress. Reduced anxiety can modulate pain perception by decreasing the release of stress hormones, allowing the client to focus on coping mechanisms and relaxation techniques.

Choice C rationale

Effective communication involves clear, empathetic, and supportive dialogue. This fosters trust and provides reassurance, which can significantly lower a client's anxiety levels. Reduced anxiety decreases sympathetic nervous system activation, thereby diminishing the physiological perception of pain and enhancing coping abilities.

Choice D rationale

Continuity of care, where the client interacts with familiar caregivers, builds rapport and trust. This consistent support reduces anxiety and allows the client to feel more comfortable and secure. Lower stress levels minimize the release of pain-potentiating neurochemicals, thereby decreasing the subjective experience of pain during labor.

Choice E rationale

Making choices for the client removes their autonomy and can increase feelings of helplessness and anxiety. This can heighten the perception of pain by activating the sympathetic nervous system and stress responses, counteracting efforts to create a supportive and pain-reducing environment during labor.