Assessment of a pregnant woman reveals that she compulsively craves ice. The nurse documents this finding as

Choice A Reason: Linea nigra is a dark vertical line that appears on the abdomen of some pregnant women. It is caused by increased melanin production and usually fades after delivery.

Choice B Reason: Pica is a condition in which a person has an abnormal desire to eat substances that are not food, such as ice, clay, dirt, or chalk. It is more common in pregnant women and may indicate a deficiency in iron or other nutrients.

Choice C Reason: Ballottement is a technique of palpating a floating structure by bouncing it gently and feeling it rebound. In obstetrics, it can be used to detect the presence of the fetus by feeling its head move when the cervix is tapped.

Choice D Reason: Quickening is the first perception of fetal movements by the pregnant woman. It usually occurs between 16 and 20 weeks of gestation.

Choice A Reason: This is incorrect because ultrasound visualization of the fetus is a positive sign of pregnancy, not a probable sign. A positive sign of pregnancy is a direct and definitive evidence of the presence of a fetus, such as fetal movement felt by the examiner or fetal heart sounds heard by a Doppler device.

Choice B Reason: This is correct because softening of the cervix, also known as Goodell's sign, is a probable sign of pregnancy. A probable sign of pregnancy is a strong indication of pregnancy based on physical changes in the reproductive organs, such as enlargement of the uterus or changes in the shape and consistency of the cervix.

Choice C Reason: This is correct because a positive pregnancy test, which detects human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in urine or blood, is a probable sign of pregnancy. However, it is not a conclusive sign, as hCG can also be produced by other conditions such as ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy, or trophoblastic tumors.

Choice D Reason: This is correct because absence of menstruation, also known as amenorrhea, is a probable sign of pregnancy. It occurs when ovulation and menstruation cease due to hormonal changes during pregnancy. However, it is not a definitive sign, as amenorrhea can also be caused by other factors such as stress, illness, or hormonal imbalances.

Choice E Reason: This is correct because ballottement, which is a rebounding of the fetus against the examiner's fingers during a pelvic examination, is a probable sign of pregnancy. It can be felt around 16 to 20 weeks of gestation.

Choice F Reason: This is incorrect because auscultation of a fetal heart beat, which can be heard by a fetoscope around 18 to 20 weeks of gestation or by a Doppler device around 10 to 12 weeks of gestation, is a positive sign of pregnancy, not a probable sign.