Exhibits

The postpartum nurse reviews the nurses' notes to determine if the outcomes were successful.

Click to highlight the notes that demonstrate a positive outcome.

The client is admitted to the hospital after her membranes rupture at 38 weeks gestation. A vaginal examination is done. The nurse determines that the client is 3 cm dilated, 40% effaced, and the fetal head is at -1 station. The external monitor shows that contractions are occurring every 4 minutes and lasting 70 seconds, and the nurse palpates the quality as strong. Her fasting blood glucose (FSBG) is 86 (4.8 mmol/L). The client is transferred to the labor-delivery-recovery (LDR) suite. The client dilates quickly to 10 cm and feels a strong urge to push. The fetal heart rate is reassuring with a baseline of 145 and moderate variability The nurse briefly reviews pushing techniques with her and her husband and notifies the obstetrician of the client's progress. After three cycles of open-glottis pushing, the baby's head is crowning. The head is born easily over an intact perineum. The infant weighs 9 lbs. 9 oz (4.34 kgs) and has an Apgar of 7 at 1 minute, then 9 at 5 minutes.

Rationale for Correct Findings:

• The client dilates quickly to 10 cm and feels a strong urge to push: Rapid dilation and the strong urge to push indicate that the client is progressing effectively through labor, with no signs of obstruction or delays.
• The fetal heart rate is reassuring with a baseline of 145 and moderate variability: A reassuring fetal heart rate with moderate variability is a good sign that the baby is not experiencing any distress during labor, indicating a healthy fetal condition.
• The head is born easily over an intact perineum: The ease of the baby's head being born over an intact perineum suggests that the delivery is progressing smoothly, with minimal risk of perineal trauma.
• Apgar of 7 at 1 minute, then 9 at 5 minutes: The Apgar scores of 7 at 1 minute and 9 at 5 minutes show a positive outcome in neonatal assessment, with a good recovery.
• The fasting blood glucose (FSBG) is 86 (4.8 mmol/L): A fasting blood glucose of 86 mg/dL is within the normal range (74 to 106 mg/dL), indicating that the client’s blood glucose levels are well-controlled, which is a positive sign for managing her gestational diabetes.

Rationale for Negative Finding:

• The infant weighs 9 lbs. 9 oz (4.34 kgs): Macrosomia (a term used for babies born weighing more than 4 kg) can be associated with gestational diabetes, which increases the likelihood of delivering a larger baby. Macrosomia may lead to potential complications such as shoulder dystocia or increased risk for cesarean delivery.