Nokea
When looking in the mirror at her abdomen, the postpartum client says to the nurse, “My stomach still looks like I’m pregnant!” The nurse explains that the abdominal muscles, which separate during pregnancy, will undergo which change?
- A. Regain tone Within the first week after birth
- B. Regain prepregnancy tone with exercise
- C. Remain separated, giving the abdomen a slight bulge
- D. Regain tone as the weight gained during pregnancy is lost
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: For most women, it takes about 6 weeks (not one week) to regain abdominal wall muscle tone to the prepregnancy state, and usually only with exercise. The “still-pregnant” appearance is caused by relaxation of the abdominal wall muscles. With exercise, most women can regain prepregnancy abdominal muscle tone within about 6 weeks. If the client delivers a very large infant, the abdominal muscles may separate, but the separation will become less apparent over time. Weight loss alone will not strengthen the abdominal muscles.
You may also like to solve these questions
The client in labor is requesting water therapy (hydrotherapy) to help provide pain relief and relaxation. Her recent vaginal exam was 2/50/—2. How should the nurse respond to the client’s request?
- A. “Usually we initiate hydrotherapy during active labor.”
- B. “You will not need to change positions quite as much.”
- C. “We will not be able to monitor fetal heart rate as easily.”
- D. “You can use hydrotherapy for up to 60 minutes at a time.”
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Hydrotherapy is usually initiated when the client is in active labor, at approximately 4 or 5 cm. This timing will help reduce the risk of prolonged labor and provide a welcome change when the contractions are becoming stronger and closer together. Changing position takes less effort while immersed in water, so women are encouraged to change positions more frequently to help facilitate the process of labor. FHR monitoring can be done just as easily during hydrotherapy, using a wireless external monitor, Doppler, or fetoscope. Internal electrodes can be placed during most types of hydrotherapy but is contraindicated during jet hydrotherapy. There is no time limit for laboring women to use hydrotherapy; they may stay as long as desired, unless complications develop during the labor process.
The nurse recognizes which behavior as a sign of potential depression in a pregnant client?
- A. Occasional fatigue
- B. Persistent sadness and withdrawal
- C. Increased appetite
- D. Excitement about the pregnancy
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Persistent sadness and withdrawal are hallmark signs of depression, requiring further assessment and intervention.
The pregnant client is experiencing low back pain. After determining that the client is not in labor, the nurse instructs the client to perform which exercises to increase comfort and decrease the incidence of the low back pain? Select all that apply.
- A. Kegel exercises
- B. Pelvic tilt exercises
- C. Leg raises
- D. Back stretch
- E. Stepping
Correct Answer: B,C,D
Rationale: Pelvic tilt exercises strengthen and stretch the abdominal and back muscles to relieve pain. Leg raises strengthen and stretch leg and abdominal muscles to relieve pain. Back stretch relieves pain from the back muscles caused by lordosis. Kegel exercises strengthen the pubococcygeal muscle, decreasing urinary leakage, but do not relieve back pain. Stepping provides aerobic exercise, which is good for circulation but is not recommended to decrease low back pain.
While assessing the prenatal client, the nurse found a number of concerning problems. Place the concerning problems in the sequence that they should be addressed by the nurse.
- A. Currently bleeding and cramping
- B. Previous varicella infection
- C. Currently using tobacco
- D. Has intense pelvic pain
Correct Answer: D,A,C,B
Rationale: Has intense pelvic pain is most concerning and should be addressed first by the nurse. It could be a symptom of a serious medical condition, such as a miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, or appendicitis. This symptom represents a possible pathology that could warrant immediate surgical intervention. Currently bleeding and cramping should be addressed next. It could be associated with the pelvic pain and could be a symptom of a serious medical condition, such as a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. Currently using tobacco can put the client at risk for multiple adverse outcomes and should be addressed, although it is not an immediately concerning factor. Previous varicella infection is important to document but poses no risk to the client or the fetus, so it is the least important to address.
The nurse is reviewing the laboratory test results of the pregnant client. Which laboratory test findings would require further follow-up from the nurse?
- A. Hemoglobin
- B. 50-g, 1-hour glucose test
- C. Glucosuria
- D. Proteinuria
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The normal Hgb level should be 12—16 g/dL in the pregnant client. The nurse should encourage iron-rich foods. The 50-g 1-hour glucose test should be less than 140. Values over 140 warrant a 3-hour glucose screen to determine if the client has gestational diabetes. The presence of glucose in the urine (glucosuria) is negative, which is a normal finding. Proteinuria in trace amounts is common in pregnant women, although higher protein concentrations should be evaluated.