A nurse is teaching a group of school-age children about healthy snack options.
Which of the following snacks should the nurse include?

Choice A rationale:

Having the client exhale deeper than she inhales is a breathing technique that can help manage pain but does not specifically address the request for pain management techniques during natural childbirth. Option A does not provide comprehensive information about pain management strategies during labor.

Choice B rationale:

Providing information about the use of hydrotherapy during labor is a valid suggestion. Hydrotherapy, such as taking a warm bath or using a shower during labor, can help alleviate pain and promote relaxation. It is a non-pharmacological pain management option that the client can consider.

Choice C rationale:

Encouraging the client to have the family exit the room when the pain is unbearable may offer emotional support, but it does not provide a direct pain management technique. Additionally, the presence of loved ones can be a source of comfort for the client during labor.

Choice D rationale:

Informing the client that using pharmacological pain management will not impact the delivery is a true statement. Pharmacological pain relief methods, such as epidural anesthesia, do not affect the progress of labor or the outcome of delivery. However, this option does not provide an alternative pain management technique for the client who desires natural childbirth.

The correct answer is choice d. Increasingly severe headache.

Choice A rationale:

Tachycardia is not typically associated with increased intracranial pressure (ICP). In fact, bradycardia (a slower heart rate) is more commonly seen as part of Cushing’s triad, which indicates increased ICP.

Choice B rationale:

Hypotension is not a common sign of increased ICP. Instead, hypertension (high blood pressure) is often observed as the body attempts to maintain cerebral perfusion pressure.

Choice C rationale:

Narrowed pulse pressure is not a typical indicator of increased ICP. Widened pulse pressure (the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure) is more commonly associated with increased ICP.

Choice D rationale:

Increasingly severe headache is a classic symptom of increased ICP. As pressure within the skull rises, it can cause significant pain and discomfort, making this a key indicator to monitor in patients with traumatic brain injury.