What should the nurse educator teach as a common reason for difficulty in assessing for side effects of medications during pregnancy?

Question

1. The mother is so uncomfortable with the pregnancy that she chooses to ignore the adverse effects.
2. Adverse effects of medications are not experienced as often with pregnant women.
3. Adverse effects of medications are often similar to common discomforts of pregnancy.
4. The mother has increased blood volume, so the drugs are not strong enough to produce side effects.

Answer 1

Correct Answer: 3
Rationale 1: The mother would not ignore the adverse effects, because of potential harm to the fetus.
Rationale 2: Pregnant women have the same potential for experiencing adverse effects from drugs as do women who are not pregnant.
Rationale 3: Nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, flushed skin, and diaphoresis are also normal symptoms in pregnancy.
Rationale 4: Volume of blood may increase the strength of medication but this will not result in difficulty assessing side effects.
Global Rationale: Nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, flushed skin, and diaphoresis are also normal symptoms in pregnancy. The mother would not ignore the adverse effects, because of potential harm to the fetus. Pregnant women have the same potential for experiencing adverse effects from drugs as do women who are not pregnant. Volume of blood may increase the strength of medication but this will not result in difficulty assessing side effects.