A 32-year-old primipara who is at 8 weeks' gestation asks if she should expect any breathing changes as the pregnancy progresses. How should the nurse respond?
1. "By the third trimester, you will no longer feel as though you're short of breath."
2. "You may experience shortness of breath due to stretching of the round ligament."
3. "If you develop shortness of breath, it should improve in the last few weeks of your pregnancy, as lightening occurs."
4. "Shortness of breath is an abnormal finding during any stage of pregnancy, and it is considered a serious complication."
3
Explanation:
1. Shortness of breath occurs as the uterus rises into the abdomen and causes pressure on the diaphragm. This problem worsens in the last trimester.
2. Round ligament stretching causes a "grabbing" sensation in the lower abdomen and inguinal area.
3. The primigravida experiences considerable relief from shortness of breath in the last few weeks of pregnancy, when lightening occurs and the fetus and uterus move down in the pelvis.
4. Because of decreased vital capacity from pressure of the enlarging uterus on the diaphragm, shortness of breath is a common problem of pregnancy.
You might also like to view...
The nurse is planning care for a patient recovering from bladder neck surgery. What should the nurse include in this patient's plan of care?
Select all that apply. 1. securing urinary catheters in position 2. reporting any onset of bright red urine 3. measuring urine output and reporting changes 4. gently tugging on urinary catheter every shift 5. expecting urine to be pink and gradually clear
An insulin syringe is calibrated in milliliters
Indicate whether the statement is true or false
The nurse is discussing the effects of pain with an older adult client diagnosed with osteoarthri-tis. The most therapeutic response to the client's comment of, "I wonder whether it would hurt if I took a nap in the afternoon?" would be:
1. "As long as it did not interfere with your getting a good night's sleep." 2. "I'd suggest taking your nap right after you take your pain medication." 3. "If it helps you cope better with the pain, I don't see any harm in taking a nap." 4. "I think a nap is a good idea because we seem to feel pain more when we are tired."
The nurse applies resistance to the top of the client's foot and asks him to pull his toes toward his knee. The nurse observes active motion against some, but not against full, resistance. How should the nurse document this finding?
a. 5: Normal b. 4: Slight weakness c. 3: Weakness d. 2: Poor ROM