A nurse is teaching about fetal development to a group of clients in the antenatal clinic.
Which of the following statements should the nurse include in the teaching?
“The baby’s heart beat is audible by a Doppler stethoscope at 12 weeks of pregnancy.”
“The baby’s sex can be determined by ultrasound at 8 weeks of pregnancy.”
“The baby’s lungs are fully mature by 24 weeks of pregnancy.”
“The baby’s eyes open and close by 16 weeks of pregnancy.”
The Correct Answer is A
The baby’s heart beat is audible by a Doppler stethoscope at 12 weeks of pregnancy.
This is a device that uses sound waves to create an image of the baby’s heart and measure its rate and rhythm.
Some possible explanations for the other choices are:
Choice B is wrong because the baby’s sex can not be determined by ultrasound at 8 weeks of pregnancy.
The external genitalia are not fully developed until around 14 to 16 weeks of pregnancy.
Even then, the accuracy of ultrasound depends on factors such as the position of the baby, the quality of the equipment, and the skill of the sonographer.
Choice C is wrong because the baby’s lungs are not fully mature by 24 weeks of pregnancy.
The lungs are one of the last organs to develop in the fetus and they continue to grow and mature until near term.
The production of surfactant, a substance that helps the lungs expand and prevent collapse, begins around 24 weeks but is not sufficient until around 34 to 36 weeks.
Choice D is wrong because the baby’s eyes do not open and close by 16 weeks of pregnancy.
The eyelids are fused together until around 26 to 28 weeks of pregnancy, when they start to open and close periodically.
The baby can also respond to light and dark stimuli around this time.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A low level of AFP (<0.5 MoM) in a pregnant woman can indicate that the fetus has a chromosomal abnormality, such as Down syndrome or Edwards syndrome.
This is because these conditions affect the development of the fetal liver, which produces AFP.
Choice A is wrong because neural tube defects, such as spina bifida, are associated with high levels of AFP (>2.5 MoM) in the maternal blood.
This is because AFP can leak from the open spinal canal of the fetus into the amniotic fluid and then into the maternal blood.
Choice C is wrong because maternal weight-related factors do not affect the level of AFP in the maternal blood.
However, they can affect the interpretation of the AFP test results, as the test needs to be adjusted for maternal weight, age, ethnicity, and gestational age.
Choice D is wrong because fetal demise (death) can also cause high levels of AFP in the maternal blood, as the AFP from the dead fetus can leak into the amniotic fluid and then into the maternal blood.
Normal ranges of AFP in pregnant women vary depending on the gestational age and the method of measurement.
Generally, normal levels of AFP are below 10 ng/ml in nonpregnant adults and below 2.5 MoM in pregnant women.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A contraction stress test (CST) is a test that simulates labor contractions to see how the baby’s heart rate responds to the stress of uterine contractions.
The biggest risk of the test is that it may cause the pregnant person to go into labor before their due date.
Some possible explanations for the other choices are:
Choice B. Premature rupture of membranes.
This is a condition where the amniotic sac breaks before labor begins.
It can increase the risk of infection and cord prolapse, but it is not a direct complication of CST.
Choice C. Infection.
This is a possible risk of any invasive procedure, but CST is usually done with external fetal monitoring and oxytocin infusion, which do not require breaking the skin or entering the uterus.
Choice D. Bleeding.
This is a potential risk of CST for people who have placenta previa, a condition where the placenta covers the cervix and can detach during contractions.
However, CST is not recommended for people who have placenta previa or other conditions that increase the risk of uterine rupture or bleeding.
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