A nurse is performing a digital examination on a client who is at 34 weeks of gestation and has pre-term labor.

Which of the following findings indicates cervical effacement?

Terbutaline can cause low potassium levels in the blood, which can lead to muscle weakness, cramps, and cardiac arrhythmias.

This is a potential adverse effect of the medication that should be reported to the provider.

Choice A is wrong because tachycardia is a common side effect of terbutaline that does not usually require medical attention.

Terbutaline works by stimulating beta-adrenergic receptors, which can increase the heart rate.

Choice B is wrong because hypotension is not a typical side effect of terbutaline.Terbutaline can actually cause elevated blood pressure in some cases.

Choice C is wrong because hyperglycemia is not a common side effect of terbutaline.Terbutaline can cause transient hyperglycemia in pregnant women, but this is not a reason to stop the medication.

Normal ranges for potassium are 3.5-5.0 mEq/L and for blood glucose are 70-110 mg/dL.

A. Referral to community services for support.

A client in preterm labor who is being discharged from the hospital needs to have a discharge plan that includes education, follow-up care, and support services.A referral to community services for support can help the client cope with the stress and anxiety of preterm labor, access resources such as home health care or social workers, and prevent complications or recurrence of preterm labor.

B. Encouragement to smoke in moderation is wrong because smoking is harmful for both the mother and the baby.

Smoking can increase the risk of preterm labor, low birth weight, placental abruption, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).Smoking should be avoided completely during pregnancy and after delivery.

C. Instructions for heavy lifting and strenuous exercise is wrong because these activities can trigger uterine contractions and increase the risk of preterm labor.

A client in preterm labor should rest as much as possible and avoid physical exertion.The client should also avoid sexual intercourse, which can stimulate the cervix and cause bleeding or infection.

D. Recommendation to avoid kangaroo care is wrong because kangaroo care is a method of holding a newborn skin-to-skin with the mother or father.

Kangaroo care can have many benefits for preterm babies, such as improving temperature regulation, breathing, heart rate, feeding, bonding, and growth.Kangaroo care can also reduce stress and pain for both the baby and the parent.