Nursing interventions and management
Nursing interventions and management ( 4 Questions)
A nurse is monitoring a client who is in labor and has meconium-stained amniotic fluid.
The nurse should identify that this finding can indicate which of the following conditions?
Meconium-stained amniotic fluid is often caused by fetal hypoxia or other physiologic stress. Any reflexive “gasping” of the unborn fetus, due to hypoxia, can depress the fetal diaphragm mechanically, squeezing the contents of the bowels into the amniotic fluid. Meconium is a sign of fetal distress, either on-going or old.
Meconium-stained amniotic fluid is not a direct indicator of fetal infection. However, fetal infection can cause fetal hypoxia and distress, which can lead to meconium passage.
Meconium-stained amniotic fluid is not a sign of fetal maturity. It is more common in full-term or post-term babies, but it can also occur in preterm babies.
It is too vague and nonspecific. Fetal distress can have many causes and manifestations, such as abnormal heart rate patterns, reduced fetal movements, or acidosis.
The correct answer is choice A. Fetal hypoxia. Meconium-stained amniotic fluid is often caused by fetal hypoxia or other physiologic stress. Any reflexive “gasping” of the unborn fetus, due to hypoxia, can depress the fetal diaphragm mechanically, squeezing the contents of the bowels into the amniotic fluid. Meconium is a sign of fetal distress, either on-going or old.
Choice B. Fetal infection is wrong because meconium-stained amniotic fluid is not a direct indicator of fetal infection. However, fetal infection can cause fetal hypoxia and distress, which can lead to meconium passage.
Choice C. Fetal maturity is wrong because meconium-stained amniotic fluid is not a sign of fetal maturity. It is more common in full-term or post-term babies, but it can also occur in preterm babies.
Choice D. Fetal distress is wrong because it is too vague and nonspecific. Fetal distress can have many causes and manifestations, such as abnormal heart rate patterns, reduced fetal movements, or acidosis.
Meconium-stained amniotic fluid is one possible sign of fetal distress, but not the only one.
