A nurse is observing the electronic fetal heart rate monitor tracing for a client who is at 40 weeks of gestation and is in labor. The nurse should suspect a problem with the umbilical cord when she observes which of the following patterns?

A. The woman had a vacuum-assisted birth. While vacuum-assisted births can cause perineal trauma, the specific orders for ice packs, sitz baths, and stool softeners are more directly related to an episiotomy, which involves a surgical incision that requires careful postpartum care.

B. The woman is a gravida 2, para 2. This information indicates the woman's obstetric history but does not directly correlate with the need for perineal ice packs, sitz baths, and stool softeners. These orders are more specific to perineal trauma or surgical intervention.

C. The woman has an episiotomy. An episiotomy involves a surgical cut made at the opening of the vagina during childbirth, which can cause significant perineal pain and swelling. The orders for perineal ice packs, sitz baths, and stool softeners are intended to manage pain, reduce swelling, and prevent constipation, which can be particularly uncomfortable with perineal stitches.

D. The woman received epidural anesthesia. While epidural anesthesia is a common pain management technique during labor, it does not necessitate the use of perineal ice packs, sitz baths, or stool softeners postpartum. These orders are more indicative of perineal trauma or surgical intervention such as an episiotomy.

Choice A reason:

Inspecting if the urethral opening appears circular. This is a correct action for the nurse to do, as it helps to identify any abnormalities in the urethral opening, such as hypospadias or epispadias, which are congenital defects where the opening is located on the underside or the top of the penis, respectively. • Choice B reason:

Retracting the foreskin over the glans to assess for secretions. This is an incorrect action for the nurse to avoid, as it can cause pain, bleeding, and infection in the newborn. The foreskin is usually adhered to the glans in newborns and should not be forcibly retracted. It will gradually loosen over time and can be retracted by the child himself when he is older. •

Choice C reason:

Palpating if testes are descended into the scrotal sac. This is a correct action for the nurse to do, as it helps to detect any undescended testes, which are more common in preterm infants and can increase the risk of infertility and testicular cancer later in life. • Choice D reason:

Inspecting the genital area for irritated skin. This is a correct action for the nurse to do, as it helps to identify any signs of diaper rash, fungal infection, or allergic reaction in the newborn's skin.