A nurse midwife is examining a client who is a primigravida at 42 weeks of gestation and states that she believes she is in labor. Which of the following findings confirm to the nurse that the client is in labor
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Cervical dilation is a key physiological change that confirms labor has begun. During the late stages of pregnancy, the cervix starts to soften, thin out (efface), and open up (dilate) in preparation for childbirth. Therefore, cervical dilation is a critical finding that indicates the onset of labor. Pain above the umbilicus, brownish vaginal discharge, and amniotic fluid in the vaginal vault are not definitive signs of labor and do not confirm the initiation of the labor process.