A nurse is explaining the purpose of a Doppler ultrasound blood flow analysis to a client who has intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).

The nurse should inform the client that this test measures which of the following?

The client should not eat a light meal before an abdominal ultrasound because it can interfere with the quality of the images.

The client should fast for 8 to 12 hours before the procedure.

Some additional information about the other choices are:

Choice A is correct.

The client should drink plenty of fluids before an appointment for an abdominal ultrasound because it helps to fill the bladder and push the uterus up for better visualization.

Choice C is correct.

The client should wear comfortable clothing that can be easily removed or lifted up to expose the abdomen.

Choice D is correct.

The client should arrive at the appointment with a full bladder because it acts as an acoustic window and improves the quality of the ultrasound images.

Normal ranges for fetal growth and development during pregnancy vary depending on the gestational age, but some general parameters are:

Fetal heart rate: 110 to 160 beats per minute

Biparietal diameter: 2.4 to 9.5 cm

Crown-rump length: 0.8 to 8.4 cm

Femur length: 1.0 to 7.8 cm

Abdominal circumference: 9.4 to 35.6 cm

A low level of AFP (<0.5 MoM) in a pregnant woman can indicate that the fetus has a chromosomal abnormality, such as Down syndrome or Edwards syndrome.

This is because these conditions affect the development of the fetal liver, which produces AFP.

Choice A is wrong because neural tube defects, such as spina bifida, are associated with high levels of AFP (>2.5 MoM) in the maternal blood.

This is because AFP can leak from the open spinal canal of the fetus into the amniotic fluid and then into the maternal blood.

Choice C is wrong because maternal weight-related factors do not affect the level of AFP in the maternal blood.

However, they can affect the interpretation of the AFP test results, as the test needs to be adjusted for maternal weight, age, ethnicity, and gestational age.

Choice D is wrong because fetal demise (death) can also cause high levels of AFP in the maternal blood, as the AFP from the dead fetus can leak into the amniotic fluid and then into the maternal blood.

Normal ranges of AFP in pregnant women vary depending on the gestational age and the method of measurement.

Generally, normal levels of AFP are below 10 ng/ml in nonpregnant adults and below 2.5 MoM in pregnant women.