A newborn is diagnosed with a heart defect. The mother says, "I tried to be so careful while I was pregnant. What happened?" What should the nurse consider before responding?

Question

Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.
Standard Text: Select all that apply.
1. Fetal heart development begins at the third week.
2. The fetal heart begins to beat in the sixth week.
3. Many women do not realize they are pregnant until after organogenesis has begun.
4. Teratogens begin to affect cardiac development as early as week eight of fetal development.
5. No specific substances have been known to affect the development of the fetal heart.

Answer 1

1,3
Rationale 1: A primitive cardiovascular system and blood cells develop during the third week following conception.
Rationale 2: The heart begins to beat and the blood begins to circulate by the end of the third week.
Rationale 3: Organogenesis begins in week three. Many women do not know they are pregnant at this stage of development.
Rationale 4: Teratogens affect organogenesis, which occurs from the third to the eighth weeks.
Rationale 5: Several environmental substances, including drugs and infections, can affect fetal heart development.