A nurse on the labor and delivery unit is caring for a client following a vaginal examination by the provider, which is documented as: 1. Which of the following interpretations of this finding should the nurse make?

A. "Increase your intake of ironrich foods and take a prenatal vitamin."
Important, but not directly related to reducing the risk of neural tube defects. Ironrich foods and prenatal vitamins are essential for overall maternal and fetal health, but they do not specifically target neural tube defect prevention.
B. "Avoid any alcohol consumption."
Important advice during pregnancy to prevent fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, but not directly related to reducing the risk of neural tube defects.
C. "Take a folic acid supplement for at least 3 months before you get pregnant."
Correct: Adequate folic acid intake before conception and during early pregnancy can significantly reduce the risk of neural tube defects in newborns.
D. "Avoid all foods containing aspartame."Aspartame is an artificial sweetener that has been studied for safety in pregnancy, and there is currently no strong evidence linking it to neural tube defects. However, it's still a good idea
to limit the intake of artificial sweeteners during pregnancy and focus on a balanced diet.

A) Administer oxygen using a nonrebreather mask: While oxygen may be necessary if there are signs of fetal distress, the priority action in this situation is to reposition the client and relieve potential cord compression.
B) Elevate the client's legs: Elevating the client's legs is not the most appropriate action in this situation and may not address the cause of the decelerations.
C) Place the client in the lateral position: This is the correct answer. The described pattern of the fetal heart rate (slowdown after the start of a contraction with the lowest rate occurring after the peak of the contraction) suggests late decelerations, which are often caused by uteroplacental
insufficiency or cord compression. Placing the client in the lateral position can help alleviate potential compression of the umbilical cord and improve fetal oxygenation.
D) Increase the rate of maintenance IV infusion: Increasing the IV infusion rate may not be the most appropriate action for late decelerations. Repositioning the client is the priority in this situation.