When caring for a postpartum client the nurse notes that the client's perineal pad is saturated with bright red blood. What is the priority question to ask the client?

A. Establish IV access: Although important for hydration and medication administration, it is not the immediate priority when assessing the fetal condition.
B. Assess the client's vital signs: While important, the immediate assessment of fetal well-being takes precedence to ensure there is no fetal distress.
C. Obtain fetal heart rate: This is crucial to assess the fetus’s condition immediately. Monitoring the fetal heart rate can identify any signs of distress and determine if urgent interventions are necessary.
D. Perform a sterile vaginal exam: This should follow the fetal heart rate assessment to check for labor progress and any complications, but it is not the first priority.

1st Trimester (Conception-13 weeks)

• Fetus has a heartbeat: The fetal heartbeat can typically be detected around 6 weeks gestation using ultrasound, marking the beginning of cardiac development in the first trimester.

2nd Trimester (14-26 weeks)

• Gender can be determined: Gender determination through ultrasound is generally possible around the 18-20 week mark in the second trimester when fetal genitalia are more distinguishable.

3rd Trimester (27-40 weeks)

• Surfactant production: Surfactant production by the fetal lungs begins in the third trimester, usually around 24-28 weeks, but continues to increase throughout the remainder of pregnancy.
• Sucking occurs: Fetal sucking movements start to develop around the 28th week and become more coordinated as the third trimester progresses.
• Fetal respiratory movements begin: Fetal respiratory movements, where the fetus practices breathing by moving the diaphragm, begin in the third trimester to prepare for life outside the womb.
• Increase in body fat: The fetus begins to accumulate more body fat in the third trimester, which helps with thermoregulation and provides energy reserves for birth and early postnatal life.