A nurse reinforcing teaching about vitamin K with a client who is postpartum. Which of the following statements should the nurse include?

Choice A reason:
Initiating epidural anesthesia too soon may delay rupture of fetal membranes. This statement is not accurate. Epidural anesthesia itself does not have a direct impact on the rupture of fetal membranes. The timing of rupturing membranes is determined based on the progress of labor and other clinical indications. There is no causal relationship between epidural anesthesia and the timing of membrane rupture.

Choice B reason:
Initiating epidural anesthesia too soon can prolong labor. This statement is correct. Epidural anesthesia, while providing pain relief during labor, can also cause some degree of motor blockage and decrease the woman's ability to push effectively. This can potentially lead to a lengthening of the labor process. It is generally recommended to wait until a good labor pattern has been established to avoid unnecessary prolongation of labor.

Choice C reason:
Initiating epidural anesthesia too soon can cause fetal depression. This statement is not entirely accurate. Epidural anesthesia can cross the placenta and reach the fetus, but the effect on the baby is usually minimal. However, fetal monitoring is essential during labor to ensure the baby's well-being, regardless of whether epidural anesthesia is used or not.

Choice D reason:
Initiating epidural anesthesia too soon can cause maternal hypertension. This statement is not supported by evidence. Epidural anesthesia does not typically cause maternal hypertension. It can, however, lead to a decrease in blood pressure in some cases, which is why careful monitoring of maternal blood pressure is necessary during and after the administration of epidural anesthesia.

The correct answer is choice D. Uterine contraction lasting 2 min.

Choice A rationale:

Early decelerations in the FHR are usually not a concern during the second stage of labor. They are a normal physiological response to the compression of the fetal head during contractions and are generally considered benign.

Choice B rationale:

Pelvic pressure with contractions is a normal finding during the second stage of labor as the baby descends into the pelvis. It does not typically require reporting to the provider unless it is associated with other concerning symptoms.

Choice C rationale:

A bloody show from the vagina is a common and expected finding during the second stage of labor. It indicates that the cervix is dilating and effacing, which is a normal part of the labor process.

Choice D rationale:

A uterine contraction lasting 2 minutes is abnormal and could indicate uterine tachysystole, which can lead to fetal distress due to reduced uterine blood flow and oxygen to the fetus. This finding should be reported to the provider immediately.