What should the nurse tell a pregnant woman at 10 weeks of gestation who jogs 3 or 4 times per week and is concerned about the effect of exercise on the fetus?
You may find that you need to modify your exercise to walking later in your pregnancy, around the seventh month.
"Jogging is too hard on your joints; switch to walking now."
"Stop exercising, because it will harm the fetus."
You do not need to modify your exercising any time during your pregnancy.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A reason: This is the best advice for the woman, as it acknowledges that jogging is safe and beneficial in early pregnancy, but also informs her that she may need to adjust her exercise intensity and duration as her pregnancy progresses. Walking is a low-impact aerobic activity that can be done throughout pregnancy, as long as there are no complications or contraindications. Walking can help maintain cardiovascular fitness, prevent excessive weight gain, and reduce the risk of gestational diabetes and preeclampsia.
Choice B reason: This is not a good advice for the woman, as it implies that jogging is harmful for her joints and that she should stop it immediately. Jogging is not necessarily bad for the joints, as long as the woman wears appropriate shoes, avoids uneven surfaces, and listens to her body. Jogging can also provide many health benefits for the woman and the fetus, such as improved mood, increased energy, and reduced stress².
Choice C reason: This is a false and alarming statement that may discourage the woman from exercising at all. Exercise during pregnancy is not dangerous for the fetus unless there are specific medical conditions or complications that prevent it. Exercise during pregnancy can improve the fetal growth, development, and oxygenation, as well as reduce the risk of preterm birth and low birth weight.
Choice D reason: This is an unrealistic and misleading statement that may cause the woman to overexert herself or ignore the signs of discomfort or fatigue. Exercise during pregnancy may need to be modified according to the woman's changing needs, abilities, and preferences. Some factors that may affect the type, frequency, intensity, and duration of exercise during pregnancy include the trimester, the fetal position, the maternal weight, the environmental temperature, and the presence of any symptoms or complications.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A reason: Raising the woman's legs is not the best initial response, as it may worsen the dizziness and light-headedness. This is because raising the legs can increase the blood flow to the lower extremities and decrease the blood flow to the brain, which can cause hypotension (low blood pressure) and hypoxia (low oxygen) in the woman and the fetus.
Choice B reason: Having the woman breathe into a paper bag is not the best initial response, as it may not address the underlying cause of the dizziness and light-headedness. This technique is usually used for hyperventilation (rapid breathing), which can cause respiratory alkalosis (high blood pH) and reduce the carbon dioxide levels in the blood. However, the woman may not be hyperventilating, but rather experiencing supine hypotensive syndrome (low blood pressure when lying on the back) due to the pressure of the uterus on the inferior vena cava (a large vein that returns blood to the heart)².
Choice C reason: Turning the woman on her side is the best initial response, as it can relieve the dizziness and light-headedness by improving the blood flow to the brain and the fetus. This is because turning the woman on her side can reduce the pressure of the uterus on the inferior vena cava and increase the cardiac output (the amount of blood pumped by the heart) and the blood pressure. The left lateral position is preferred, as it can also optimize the placental perfusion (the blood flow to the placenta) and the fetal oxygenation.
Choice D reason: Assessing the woman's blood pressure and pulse is an important response, but not the first one. After turning the woman on her side, the nurse should monitor the vital signs and the fetal heart rate to evaluate the condition of the woman and the fetus. The nurse should also check for other signs and symptoms of supine hypotensive syndrome, such as nausea, sweating, and visual disturbances.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A reason: A previous birth of a large infant (macrosomia) is a risk factor for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). A large infant may indicate that the mother had high blood glucose levels during pregnancy, which can cause the fetus to grow larger than normal. Women who have had a large infant are more likely to develop GDM in subsequent pregnancies.
Choice B reason: Underweight before pregnancy is not a risk factor for GDM. In fact, being overweight or obese before pregnancy is a risk factor for GDM, as it increases insulin resistance and makes it harder for the body to use glucose effectively.
Choice C reason: A previous diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus is not a risk factor for GDM. It is a contraindication for GDM, as it means that the woman already has diabetes before pregnancy. GDM is a condition that develops during pregnancy and usually resolves after delivery.
Choice D reason: Maternal age younger than 25 years is not a risk factor for GDM. In fact, being older than 25 years is a risk factor for GDM, as it increases the risk of insulin resistance and other metabolic changes that can affect glucose tolerance.
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