When assessing a newborn, which is the best method for the nurse to use to elicit the Moro reflex?

The correct answer is choice D. If the client feels like she has butterflies in her stomach, it means her baby is moving.

This is a normal and expected change during pregnancy, especially in the second and third trimesters.The baby’s movements can be felt as flutters, kicks, or rolls.

Choice A is wrong because spotting of blood on the underwear is not a normal change during pregnancy.

It can indicate a problem such as placenta previa, placental abruption, or miscarriage.Any bleeding during pregnancy should be reported to the health care provider.

Choice B is wrong because clear fluid leaking from the vagina is not a normal change during pregnancy.

It can indicate that the membranes have ruptured and amniotic fluid is escaping.

This can lead to infection and preterm labor if not treated promptly.Any fluid leakage during pregnancy should be reported to the health care provider.

Choice C is wrong because dark patches on the face are not a sign of high blood pressure during pregnancy.

They are called melasma or chloasma and are caused by increased pigmentation due to hormonal changes.They usually fade after delivery and are not harmful.High blood pressure during pregnancy can cause symptoms such as headache, blurred vision, swelling, and protein in the urine.

The correct answer is choice C. Have a suction catheter available for use at delivery.This is because meconium-stained amniotic fluid indicates that the fetus has passed meconium (first stool) before birth, which can be a sign of fetal distress or hypoxia.Meconium can block the airways and cause breathing problems for the newborn, so suctioning the mouth and nose (or the trachea if needed) is important to prevent meconium aspiration syndrome.

Choice A is wrong because taking the mother’s vital signs every 15 minutes is not a specific intervention for meconium-stained amniotic fluid.

Vital signs should be monitored regularly during labor regardless of the fluid color.

Choice B is wrong because sending a specimen of the fluid to the laboratory for analysis is not a priority action.The color and consistency of the fluid can be observed by the nurse and documented.

The laboratory analysis will not change the immediate management of the newborn.

Choice D is wrong because preparing a slide of the fluid for fern testing is not relevant for meconium-stained amniotic fluid.

Fern testing is used to confirm the rupture of membranes by detecting a fern-like pattern of amniotic fluid under a microscope.It is not useful for assessing the presence or severity of meconium-stained amniotic fluid.