A nurse is providing discharge instructions to a client who is breastfeeding her newborn. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?

Choice A rationale:

Determining gestational age in the first trimester is a common and important use of ultrasound. It helps confirm the estimated due date and monitor the fetus's growth and development.

Choice B rationale:

Performing a biophysical profile in the first trimester is not a common use of ultrasound. Biophysical profiles are usually performed in the second or third trimester to assess fetal well-being.

Choice C rationale:

Observing placental maturity in the first trimester is not a standard use of ultrasound. Placental maturity is typically assessed later in pregnancy, especially in the third trimester.

Choice D rationale:

Detecting intrauterine growth restriction in the first trimester is not a primary use of ultrasound. Intrauterine growth restriction is more commonly assessed in the later stages of pregnancy when fetal growth is a concern.

Choice A rationale:

The nurse should not tell the client that she cannot have an amniocentesis until she is at least 35 years of age. Age is not the primary factor for determining the eligibility for an amniocentesis. Amniocentesis is typically performed when there is a medical indication, such as advanced maternal age, abnormal prenatal screening, or a family history of genetic disorders.

Choice B rationale:

The nurse should not schedule the amniocentesis for later today without further clarification from the provider. Scheduling medical procedures without the provider's approval is not within the nurse's scope of practice and could lead to potential risks.

Choice C rationale:

This is the correct answer. The nurse should explain to the client that amniocentesis is a procedure used to determine if the baby has genetic or congenital disorders. It involves the extraction of a small amount of amniotic fluid to analyze the fetal cells for genetic abnormalities.

Choice D rationale:

The nurse should not tell the client that her provider will schedule a chorionic villus sampling (CVS) to determine the sex of the baby. CVS is another prenatal diagnostic test, but its primary purpose is to detect genetic disorders early in pregnancy, not to determine the baby's sex.