A woman who is 38 weeks pregnant reports feeling dizzy when lying on her back. What does the nurse explain as the most likely cause of this symptom?
Supine hypotension syndrome
Pregnancy-induced hypotension
Anxiety
Hypoglycemia
The Correct Answer is A
A. Supine hypotension syndrome occurs when the gravid uterus compresses the inferior vena cava when the woman is lying flat on her back, leading to decreased venous return, lowered cardiac output, and a drop in blood pressure. This can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, and sometimes fainting. It is more common in the later stages of pregnancy, such as at 38 weeks.
B. Pregnancy-induced hypotension refers to a decrease in blood pressure due to pregnancy, but it typically does not occur specifically when lying on the back, and is not the main cause of dizziness when positioned in that way.
C. Anxiety can cause dizziness, but it is not the most likely cause of dizziness related to lying flat on the back, especially in late pregnancy.
D. Hypoglycemia can cause dizziness, but it is not typically triggered by a change in position like lying on the back, making it less likely in this scenario.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. At 8 weeks, the embryo is transitioning into the fetal stage of development and is not viable outside the womb. Organs are still in the early stages of formation.
B. While some sources may consider 24 weeks the age of "reasonable viability" with intensive medical support, many medical guidelines recognize viability beginning as early as 20 weeks under optimal conditions.
C. The age of 20 weeks is often cited as the lower threshold of fetal viability due to improved neonatal care, although survival rates improve significantly after this point.
D. At 14 weeks, the fetus is in the second trimester, but it is far too underdeveloped for survival outside the womb.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Possible signs of pregnancy are not a recognized classification in obstetrics; signs are categorized as presumptive, probable, or positive.
B. Feeling fetal movement, or quickening, is a presumptive sign of pregnancy because it is subjective and can be influenced by other factors, such as gastrointestinal activity or perception errors.
C. Probable signs are objective findings observed by a healthcare provider, such as a positive pregnancy test or uterine enlargement, not based on the woman's report.
D. Positive signs of pregnancy are definitive and include visualizing the fetus on ultrasound or hearing the fetal heartbeat through Doppler, neither of which relies on subjective feelings.
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