Anatomy and Physiology of Pregnancy Related

Review Anatomy and Physiology of Pregnancy related questions and content

A patient relates a story of how her boyfriend is feeling her aches and pains associated with her pregnancy. She is concerned that her boyfriend is making fun of her concerns. How would you respond to this patient statement?

  • A. Tell her not to worry because it is natural for her boyfriend to make her feel better by identifying with her pregnancy.
  • B. Refer the patient to a psychologist for counseling to deal with this problem because it is clearly upsetting her.
  • C. Explain that her boyfriend may be experiencing couvade syndrome and that this is a normal finding seen with male partners.
  • D. Ask the patient specifically to define her concerns related to her relationship with her boyfriend and suggest methods to stop this type of behavior by her significant other.
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C because couvade syndrome is a real phenomenon where male partners experience similar symptoms to their pregnant partners. By explaining this to the patient, it validates her concerns and normalizes her boyfriend's behavior.

Choice A is incorrect because it dismisses the patient's concerns and does not address the underlying issue. Choice B is incorrect because referring the patient to a psychologist may be premature without exploring the possibility of couvade syndrome first. Choice D is incorrect because it does not address the potential root cause of the boyfriend's behavior and may not provide a satisfactory resolution for the patient.