A nurse is providing preconception counseling for a client who is planning a pregnancy.
Which of the following supplements should the nurse recommend to help prevent neural tube defects in the fetus?
Iron.
Calcium.
Vitamin C.
Folic acid.
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A rationale
Iron is an important nutrient during pregnancy as it helps to make the extra blood (hemoglobin) you need to supply oxygen to the baby. However, while iron is important for both mother and baby during pregnancy, it does not specifically help to prevent neural tube defects in the fetus.
Choice B rationale
Calcium is crucial during pregnancy as it helps to build your baby’s bones and teeth. However, calcium does not specifically help to prevent neural tube defects.
Choice C rationale
Vitamin C is important for the growth and repair of tissues in all parts of your body during pregnancy. It helps the body to make collagen, an important protein used to make skin, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels. However, Vitamin C does not specifically help to prevent neural tube defects.
Choice D rationale
Folic acid is the synthetic form of folate, a type of B vitamin. It’s very important for all people, including pregnant women. It can help prevent major birth defects of the baby’s brain and spine (neural tube defects). Women who are planning to become pregnant should take a multivitamin with 400 micrograms of folic acid every day.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale
The nurse should include in the teaching that a client who is 23 weeks pregnant can receive an influenza vaccination during pregnancy. This is because the influenza vaccine is safe and recommended for pregnant women to protect both the mother and the baby from the flu.
Choice B rationale
The rubella vaccine is a live vaccine and is not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding due to the potential risk to the baby. However, it can be given immediately after delivery if the woman is not immune.
Choice C rationale
The varicella vaccine is also a live vaccine and is not recommended during pregnancy. It should be given before pregnancy or immediately after delivery if the woman is not immune.
Choice D rationale
The Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis) vaccine is actually recommended during each pregnancy, regardless of the patient’s previous history of receiving the vaccine. The optimal timing for Tdap administration is between 27 and 36 weeks of gestation.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale
While determining the viability of the fetus is an important aspect of prenatal care, it is not the primary purpose of an ultrasound in this scenario. The client’s report of feeling the baby moving suggests that the fetus is likely viable.
Choice B rationale
The primary purpose of the ultrasound in this scenario is to locate the placenta. Heavy, red vaginal bleeding at 38 weeks of gestation could indicate a complication such as placenta previa, where the placenta covers the cervix. An ultrasound can help confirm this diagnosis.
Choice C rationale
Measuring the biparietal diameter is a method used to estimate fetal weight and gestational age. However, in this scenario, the client is already known to be at 38 weeks of gestation, and the sudden onset of heavy, red vaginal bleeding is a more immediate concern.
Choice D rationale
Assessing fetal lung maturity is typically done when there is a risk of preterm delivery. In this scenario, the client is already at 38 weeks of gestation, which is considered full term. The immediate concern is the heavy, red vaginal bleeding.
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