A client in the first trimester of pregnancy arrives at a health care clinic and reports that she has been experiencing vaginal bleeding.
A threatened abortion is suspected, and the nurse instructs the client regarding management of care.
Which statement, if made by the client, indicates a need for further education?

Choice A rationale

Monitoring uterine contractions is important during labor, but in the context of late pregnancy bleeding, the immediate priority is to assess the well-being of both the mother and the fetus. Contractions may or may not be present at this stage.

Choice B rationale

Placing clean disposable pads is a reasonable action to manage bleeding and assess its characteristics. However, it does not address the immediate need to evaluate the maternal and fetal status, which is critical in a bleeding episode during late pregnancy.

Choice C rationale

Assessing fetal heart rate (FHR) is crucial to determine fetal well-being in the presence of bleeding. Maternal vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, respiration) are equally important to evaluate the mother's hemodynamic stability. Bleeding in late pregnancy can compromise both maternal and fetal oxygenation and perfusion, making this assessment the highest priority. Normal maternal heart rate is typically 60-100 beats per minute, and normal maternal blood pressure is typically 90/60 mmHg to 120/80 mmHg. The normal fetal heart rate range is 110-160 beats per minute.

Choice D rationale

Performing a venipuncture for hemoglobin and hematocrit levels will provide information about the extent of blood loss and the mother's oxygen-carrying capacity. While this is an important assessment, it is not the immediate priority compared to evaluating the fetal heart rate and maternal vital signs, which provide real-time information about their current status. Normal hemoglobin for pregnant women typically ranges from 10.5 to 14 g/dL in the first and third trimesters and slightly lower in the second trimester due to hemodilution. Normal hematocrit for pregnant women typically ranges from 32% to 42%.

Choice A rationale

Caput succedaneum is swelling of the soft tissues of the newborn's scalp, often caused by pressure during vaginal delivery. It is a separate condition from cephalohematoma, which involves bleeding between the periosteum and the skull bone. Therefore, cephalohematoma does not increase the risk for caput succedaneum.

Choice B rationale

Jaundice, or hyperbilirubinemia, is a common condition in newborns due to the breakdown of fetal red blood cells and the immature liver's inability to efficiently process bilirubin. Cephalohematomas involve the rupture of blood vessels, leading to an increased breakdown of red blood cells. This releases more bilirubin into the bloodstream, thus elevating the risk of jaundice in infants with cephalohematomas. Normal total bilirubin levels in newborns range from 1 to 12 mg/dL, varying with age in days.

Choice C rationale

Infection is a risk associated with any break in the skin or invasive procedure, but a cephalohematoma itself is a collection of blood beneath the periosteum and does not inherently create an open wound or direct pathway for infection. While infection of a cephalohematoma is possible, it is not a primary increased risk associated with its development.

Choice D rationale

Erythema toxicum is a common, benign skin rash seen in newborns, characterized by small, yellow-white papules or pustules surrounded by red skin. Its etiology is unknown but it is thought to be an inflammatory reaction of the hair follicles. It is not related to the presence or development of a cephalohematoma.