Maternity Nursing: Antepartum Q 43
A pregnant woman’s last menstrual period began on April 8, 2020, and ended on April 13. Using Naegele’s rule her estimated date of birth would be:
A. January 15, 2021
B. January 20, 2021
C. July 1, 2021
D. November 5, 2020
Correct Answer: A. January 15, 2021.
Naegele’s rule requires subtracting 3 months and adding 7 days and 1 year if appropriate to the first day of a Naegele’s rule requires subtracting 3 months and adding 7 days and 1 year if appropriate to the first day of a pregnant woman’s last menstrual period. When this rule was used on April 8, 2020, the estimated date of birth was January 15, 2021.
Option B: Determining gestational age is one of the most critical aspects of providing quality prenatal care. Knowing the gestational age allows the obstetrician to provide care to the mother without compromising maternal or fetal status. It allows for the correct timing of management, such as administering steroids for fetal lung maturity, starting ASA therapy with a history of pre-eclampsia in previous pregnancies, starting hydroxyprogesterone caproate (Makena) for previous preterm deliveries.
Option C: Naegele’s rule, derived from a German obstetrician, subtracts 3 months and adds 7 days to calculate the estimated due date (EDD).
Option D: It is prudent for the obstetrician to get a detailed menstrual history, including duration, flow, previous menstrual periods, and hormonal contraceptives. These factors are used to determine the length of her cycles and ovulation period.