A nurse is educating a pregnant client about the endocrine changes during pregnancy.

Which hormone is responsible for inhibiting ovulation and stimulating milk production?

Increased glomerular filtration rate.

This is because during pregnancy, the renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate increase to meet the increased metabolic demands of the mother and fetus.

This can result in increased urinary protein excretion, which is usually mild and does not indicate renal damage.

Choice A is wrong because decreased glomerular permeability would reduce the amount of protein that can pass through the glomerulus and into the urine.

Choice B is wrong because decreased protein intake would not affect the urinary protein levels, unless the intake is severely deficient.

Choice D is wrong because increased tubular reabsorption would decrease the amount of protein that is excreted in the urine, as the tubules would reabsorb more protein from the filtrate and return it to the blood.

Increased renal blood flow is responsible for the increased urinary output during pregnancy.

This is because the renal plasma flow and glomerular filtration rate increase by 50% to 80% during pregnancy, resulting in more urine production.

Choice A is wrong because the glomerular filtration rate increases, not decreases, during pregnancy.

Choice B is wrong because the tubular reabsorption decreases, not increases, during pregnancy.

This is due to the increased levels of progesterone, which inhibit sodium reabsorption and cause diuresis.

Choice D is wrong because the increased plasma volume is a consequence, not a cause, of the increased renal blood flow.

The plasma volume expands by 30% to 50% during pregnancy to meet the increased metabolic demands of the mother and fetus.