A woman gave birth vaginally to a 9-lb, 12-ounce girl yesterday. Her primary health care provider has written orders for perineal ice packs, use of sitz bath TID, and a stool softener. What information is most closely correlated with these orders?
The woman has laceration
The woman had her fourth baby
The woman received epidural anesthesia
The woman had a vacuum assisted birth
The Correct Answer is A
A. The woman has a laceration:
The orders for perineal ice packs, sitz baths, and a stool softener suggest that the woman may have sustained perineal trauma, such as a laceration, during childbirth. Ice packs are used initially to reduce swelling and discomfort, while a sitz bath helps with healing and soothing of the perineal area. Stool softeners are prescribed to prevent straining during bowel movements, which could worsen the discomfort of a laceration. These interventions are commonly recommended for women who experience perineal lacerations during vaginal delivery.
B. The woman had her fourth baby:
While the fact that this is the woman’s fourth pregnancy may influence her overall recovery, it is not directly correlated with the orders for ice packs, sitz baths, and stool softeners. Women who have had multiple children may be at a higher risk for perineal trauma due to the stretching of tissues, but this specific care plan is more likely related to a perineal injury, not the number of previous births.
C. The woman received epidural anesthesia:
Epidural anesthesia may be used to manage pain during labor, but it does not directly necessitate the use of ice packs, sitz baths, or stool softeners. While epidurals can sometimes lead to difficulty with bladder or bowel control, they do not typically cause perineal lacerations or require these specific interventions unless there is another issue, such as a laceration, that needs attention.
D. The woman had a vacuum-assisted birth:
Vacuum-assisted births can cause perineal trauma, including lacerations or hematomas, but the order for perineal care (ice packs, sitz baths, stool softeners) is not exclusively linked to vacuum assistance. The woman may have had a laceration during a vacuum-assisted delivery, but it is the laceration itself, rather than the use of the vacuum, that most directly correlates with these interventions. Therefore, the priority care focus is still on addressing the potential for perineal laceration.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A) Mother Rh-, baby Rh+:
RhoGAM (Rh immune globulin) is administered to a mother who is Rh-negative and has delivered a baby who is Rh-positive. If the Rh-negative mother is exposed to Rh-positive blood (via the baby’s blood during delivery), her immune system may start producing antibodies against Rh-positive cells, which could affect future pregnancies. The RhoGAM injection works by preventing the mother from developing these antibodies, thereby protecting any subsequent pregnancies from hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) in which the mother’s antibodies attack the baby’s red blood cells. This is a crucial preventive measure to avoid sensitization to Rh-positive blood.
B) Mother Rh-, baby Rh-:
If both the mother and baby are Rh-negative, there is no concern about the development of antibodies because there is no exposure to Rh-positive blood. Therefore, RhoGAM is not necessary in this situation.
C) Mother Rh+, baby Rh+:
In this scenario, the mother is Rh-positive, so she cannot develop antibodies against Rh-positive blood, regardless of the baby's Rh status. Hence, RhoGAM is not required because there is no risk of Rh incompatibility.
D) Mother Rh+, baby Rh-:
Since the mother is Rh-positive, there is no risk of her immune system attacking an Rh-negative baby’s red blood cells. Thus, RhoGAM is not needed in this case either.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A) Protect the fetal skin from amniotic fluid:
Vernix caseosa is a whitish, cheese-like substance that covers the skin of the fetus during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. It plays an essential role in protecting the fetal skin from prolonged exposure to amniotic fluid, which can be irritating. Vernix also serves as a barrier that helps prevent water loss and protects against potential infections.
B) Promote normal peripheral nervous system development:
While the development of the peripheral nervous system is vital to fetal development, the presence of vernix caseosa is not directly related to promoting nervous system development. The vernix's primary function is to protect the skin, not influence neural development. Neural development occurs due to other factors, such as adequate nutrition and hormonal regulation during pregnancy.
C) Allow transport of oxygen and nutrients across the amnion:
Vernix caseosa does not play a role in transporting oxygen or nutrients across the amnion. Oxygen and nutrients are transferred to the fetus through the placenta and the umbilical cord. The amniotic sac, which contains amniotic fluid, provides a cushioning effect for the fetus, but the vernix itself does not participate in nutrient or oxygen exchange.
D) Regulate fetal temperature:
Vernix caseosa does not directly regulate fetal temperature. Fetal temperature regulation is mainly managed by the mother's body through thermoregulation and the umbilical blood flow. The vernix may provide some protection against temperature fluctuations after birth, but its primary function is to protect the skin, not to regulate temperature.
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