A nurse is evaluating a client who is at 34 weeks of gestation and has pre-term labor.

Which of the following fetal factors can contribute to pre-term labor?

Preeclampsia.Preeclampsia is a condition that can cause placental abnormalities that can lead to pre-term labor.Preeclampsia is characterized by high blood pressure and proteinuria in pregnant women after 20 weeks of gestation.

Preeclampsia can affect the blood flow to the placenta and cause placental insufficiency, which is a reduced ability of the placenta to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the fetus.Placental insufficiency can trigger pre-term labor as a way of protecting the fetus from further hypoxia and growth restriction.

Choice A. Diabetes mellitus is wrong because diabetes mellitus does not directly cause placental abnormalities

Fetal aneuploidy, which means having an abnormal number of chromosomes, can contribute to pre-term labor.This is because fetal abnormalities are associated with 30% of preterm deliveries.

Choice A is wrong because fetal macrosomia, which means having a large baby, is not a risk factor for pre-term labor.In fact, it may increase the risk of post-term delivery.

Choice C is wrong because fetal distress, which means the baby is not getting enough oxygen or nutrients, is not a cause of pre-term labor, but rather a complication that may occur during labor and delivery.

Choice D is wrong because fetal hydrops, which means having excess fluid in the body tissues, is not a direct cause of pre-term labor, but rather a symptom of other conditions that may affect the baby’s health.

Normal ranges for gestational age are 37 to 42 weeks.Pre-term labor occurs when regular contractions result in the opening of the cervix after week 20 and before week 37 of pregnancy.