A nurse is performing an abdominal ultrasound for a client who is at 28 weeks of gestation.

The nurse should instruct the client to do which of the following before the procedure?

This is because a nuchal translucency ultrasound measures the amount of fluid behind the baby’s neck in the first trimester of pregnancy, which can indicate the risk of having a chromosomal condition like Down syndrome.

Some possible explanations for the other choices are:

Choice A is wrong because fetal growth and development are not directly related to the nuchal translucency measurement.

Fetal growth and development are assessed by other parameters such as crown-rump length, biparietal diameter, abdominal circumference, etc.

Choice B is wrong because blood flow in the umbilical cord is not measured by the nuchal translucency ultrasound.

Blood flow in the umbilical cord is assessed by Doppler ultrasound, which evaluates the resistance and velocity of blood flow in the umbilical artery and vein.

Choice D is wrong because structural abnormalities in the baby’s organs are not detected by the nuchal translucency ultrasound.

Structural abnormalities in the baby’s organs are diagnosed by a detailed anatomy scan, which is usually performed in the second trimester of pregnancy.

The normal range for nuchal translucency is between 1 mm and 3 mm.

A measurement above 3 mm is considered increased and may indicate a higher risk of chromosomal or genetic conditions.

However, a nuchal translucency ultrasound is a screening test and not a diagnostic test, so it does not confirm or rule out any condition.

It only provides a probability based on statistical calculations.

Therefore, further testing may be recommended if the nuchal translucency measurement is increased or if other risk factors are present.

An alpha-fetoprotein test (AFP) is a blood test that measures the amount of AFP present in blood.

It’s usually part of what’s called a triple screen or quad screen in the second trimester of pregnancy.

The yolk sac, GI tract, and liver of an unborn baby produce AFP.

It then circulates through the fetal and maternal blood.

High levels of AFP in pregnant people can indicate that the baby has a neural tube defect, such as spina bifida or anencephaly.

Choice B is wrong because assessing placental function is not the primary purpose of an AFP test.

However, low levels of AFP can indicate problems with the placenta or the baby’s growth.

Choice C is wrong because determining fetal gender is not the primary purpose of an AFP test.

However, some genetic tests that use a sample of the baby’s DNA from the pregnant person’s blood can reveal the baby’s sex as early as 10 weeks of pregnancy.

Choice D is wrong because diagnosing chromosomal abnormalities is not the primary purpose of an AFP test.

However, an AFP test is usually part of a quad screen that also tests for other markers that can indicate the risk of chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down syndrome.