Signs and symptoms
Signs and symptoms ( 5 Questions)
A nurse is teaching a group of pregnant clients about the risk factors for umbilical cord prolapse.
Which of the following factors should the nurse include? (Select all that apply.)
Polyhydramnios, or excessive amniotic fluid around the fetus, can cause the cord to slip out when the membranes rupture.
Breech presentation, or abnormal positioning of the baby, can make it easier for the cord to slip between and past the fetal feet and into the pelvis.
Premature rupture of membranes, or breaking of the water before labor begins, can cause the cord to prolapse if the baby’s head is not well engaged in the pelvis.
Post-term pregnancy, or pregnancy that lasts longer than 42 weeks, is not a risk factor for umbilical cord prolapse. However, it can increase the risk of other complications such as fetal macrosomia, placental insufficiency and meconium aspiration.
Multiple gestation, or having more than one baby in the uterus, can cause unstable lie, or frequent changes in the position of the baby. This can increase the risk of cord prolapse if the membranes rupture when the baby is not in a cephalic (head-down) position.
The correct answer is choices A, B, C and E. These are all risk factors for umbilical cord prolapse, which is a complication that occurs when the umbilical cord drops through the cervix and into the vagina ahead of the baby during delivery. This can cause fetal hypoxia and distress by compressing the cord and reducing blood flow to the baby.
Choice A is correct because polyhydramnios, or excessive amniotic fluid around the fetus, can cause the cord to slip out when the membranes rupture.
Choice B is correct because breech presentation, or abnormal positioning of the baby, can make it easier for the cord to slip between and past the fetal feet and into the pelvis.
Choice C is correct because premature rupture of membranes, or breaking of the water before labor begins, can cause the cord to prolapse if the baby’s head is not well engaged in the pelvis.
Choice D is wrong because post-term pregnancy, or pregnancy that lasts longer than 42 weeks, is not a risk factor for umbilical cord prolapse. However, it can increase the risk of other complications such as fetal macrosomia, placental insufficiency and meconium aspiration.
Choice E is correct because multiple gestation, or having more than one baby in the uterus, can cause unstable lie, or frequent changes in the position of the baby. This can increase the risk of cord prolapse if the membranes rupture when the baby is not in a cephalic (head-down) position.