A woman who is 28 weeks' pregnant has bilateral edema in her lower legs after working 8 hours a day as a cashier at a local grocery store. She is worried about her legs. What is the nurse's best response?
a. "You will be at risk for development of varicose veins when your legs are edematous."
b. "I would like to listen to your heart sounds. Edema can indicate a problem with your heart."
c. "Edema is usually the result of too much salt and fluids in your diet. You may need to cut down on salty foods."
d. "As your baby grows, it slows blood return from your legs, causing the swelling. This often occurs with prolonged standing."
ANS: D
Edema of the lower extremities occurs because of the enlarging fetus, which impairs venous return. Prolonged standing worsens the edema. Typically, the bilateral, dependent edema experienced with pregnancy is not the result of a cardiac pathologic condition.
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