Share This Link

Prolactin is produced by the anterior pituitary and primarily supports lactogenesis. It prepares breast tissue for milk production and has no direct role in cervical softening or changes associated with Goodell’s sign.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is secreted by the trophoblast after implantation and maintains the corpus luteum in early pregnancy. While it sustains progesterone production, it does not directly affect cervical softening.

Oxytocin is a posterior pituitary hormone responsible for uterine contractions during labor and milk ejection postpartum. It plays no role in the early cervical changes observed in Goodell’s sign.

 Muscle stretching contributes to striae gravidarum (stretch marks) but does not cause pigmentation. It does not influence melanin activity or result in the darkening of the linea alba.

Fat deposition occurs during pregnancy as maternal energy storage, but it is not responsible for pigmentation changes. It may contribute to skin stretching but not to linea nigra formation.

Uterine contractions are related to labor and Braxton Hicks activity. They have no effect on skin pigmentation or MSH levels.

80–100 bpm is below the normal fetal range and may suggest bradycardia or an inability to distinguish maternal from fetal heart sounds. Fetal bradycardia at this stage would be considered pathological.

160–200 bpm exceeds the upper limit of normal. While early in the first trimester fetal heart rate may be transiently high, by 11 weeks, it typically stabilizes below 160 bpm. A sustained rate >160 bpm suggests tachycardia and may signal infection, maternal fever, or hypoxia.

200–240 bpm is dangerously high and not typical for any normal stage of fetal development. This level of tachycardia suggests a serious arrhythmia or fetal compromise and warrants immediate investigation.

Primigravida refers to a woman who is pregnant for the first time. This term does not convey whether the pregnancy reached 20 weeks. It describes the number of pregnancies, not outcomes.

Multipara describes a woman who has completed two or more pregnancies to ≥20 weeks gestation. The question describes someone who has not completed even one pregnancy to that point, making this term inaccurate.

Primipara refers to a woman who has completed one pregnancy to 20 weeks gestation or more, regardless of whether the infant was born alive or stillborn. Since the individual in the question has never completed a pregnancy to 20 weeks, this term is not applicable.

Gravida 1 indicates a woman who is in her first pregnancy. The patient in the question has had a total of 3 pregnancies, with 2 previous pregnancies that ended in a term birth and a miscarriage. Therefore, this choice is incorrect.

 Gravida 2 indicates a woman who is in her second pregnancy. The patient in the question has had a total of 3 pregnancies, with 2 previous pregnancies that ended in a term birth and a miscarriage. Therefore, this choice is incorrect.

Gravida 4 indicates a woman who has had 4 pregnancies. The patient in the question has had 1 term birth, 1 miscarriage, and 1 ongoing pregnancy, which adds up to a total of 3 pregnancies. Therefore, this choice is incorrect.

A value of 1 is incorrect because the fifth digit clearly states 3 living children. There is no ambiguity in this representation.

A value of 2 does not match the fifth digit of the GTPAL sequence. The client has 3 living children, as indicated by the final number.

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is characterized by fetal weight below the 10th percentile for gestational age. It typically presents with a fundal height smaller than expected due to reduced fetal size or placental insufficiency.

Oligohydramnios is defined by AFI <5 cm or deepest pocket <2 cm. It leads to decreased uterine volume and a fundal height smaller than expected, not larger.

Correct dating of pregnancy ensures accurate correlation between gestational age and fundal height. It does not cause abnormal fundal height measurements; rather, it helps detect discrepancies due to pathological conditions.

Fundal height measurement is not reliable in the first trimester due to the small uterine size. It becomes clinically useful only from 20 weeks onward, with a ±2 cm margin of error.

Last menstrual period (LMP) is subject to inaccuracies due to irregular cycles, implantation bleeding, or poor recall. It assumes ovulation on day 14, which is not consistent across all

Auscultation of fetal heart tones with a fetoscope is not possible in the first trimester. Heart tones are typically audible by fetoscope only after 18 to 20 weeks, making it unsuitable for early gestational dating.

A fundal height of 20–22 cm is expected around 20 to 22 weeks gestation. At 28 weeks, this would be significantly below expected and may suggest IUGR or oligohydramnios.

A range of 25–27 cm is slightly below the expected value for 28 weeks. While it may still fall within the ±2 cm margin, 28–30 cm is more precise and appropriate.

A fundal height of 32–34 cm is expected around 32 to 34 weeks gestation. At 28 weeks, this would be elevated and may suggest polyhydramnios, macrosomia, or incorrect dating.

Birth weight cannot be predicted exactly based on gestational age alone. While gestational age provides a framework for expected growth, many factors including genetics and maternal health influence final birth weight.

Labor induction is not scheduled solely based on gestational age unless medically indicated. Induction before 39 weeks without indication increases neonatal risks. Accurate dating helps avoid premature or delayed induction.

Fetal gender determination is not the primary reason for dating. Gender can be identified via ultrasound or genetic testing, but gestational age is critical for broader clinical decisions.