At her first prenatal visit, a woman and the nurse are discussing fetal development.The client asks, "When will we be able to hear the baby's heartbeat?" The nurse should reply, The fetal heartbeat can be heard with a Doppler at:

Choice A rationale

Lie on back when counting kicks is incorrect. It is recommended to lie on the side, preferably the left side, as lying on the back can compress major blood vessels and affect circulation to the fetus.

Choice B rationale

You can begin counting fetal movements at 8 weeks gestation is incorrect. Fetal movements are typically felt by the mother starting around 18-20 weeks of gestation, not as early as 8 weeks.

Choice C rationale

Call healthcare provider if at least 3 movements are not felt over an hour. This is an important guideline as decreased fetal movements can indicate potential issues and should be reported to the healthcare provider for further evaluation.

Choice D rationale

Count movements at the same time each day is a good practice but it is not the most critical instruction. While consistency is beneficial, the immediate action for decreased movements is more urgent.

Choice A rationale

Lanugo is a fine hair that covers the fetus but does not primarily protect the skin from amniotic fluid exposure. It mainly helps in thermoregulation and the adherence of the vernix caseosa.

Choice B rationale

While skin care after birth is important, applying cream post-delivery does not explain why the skin is protected during gestation.

Choice C rationale

Vernix caseosa is a protective, cheese-like coating that covers the fetus's skin. It provides a barrier against the amniotic fluid, preventing maceration of the skin during the pregnancy.

Choice D rationale

Although subcutaneous fat develops in the fetus, it is not responsible for protecting the skin from amniotic fluid. The primary protective mechanism is the vernix caseosa.