Maternity Nursing Q 130

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A patient is in her last trimester of pregnancy. Nurse Vickie should instruct her to notify her primary health care provider immediately if she notices:

  

     A. Blurred vision

     B. Hemorrhoids

     C. Increased vaginal mucus

     D. Shortness of breath on exertion

    

    

Correct Answer: A. Blurred vision

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Blurred vision or other visual disturbance, excessive weight gain, edema, and increased blood pressure may signal severe preeclampsia. This condition may lead to eclampsia, which has potentially serious consequences for both the patient and fetus.

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Option B: Although hemorrhoids may be a problem during pregnancy, they do not require immediate attention. Hemorrhoids occur when the external hemorrhoidal veins become varicose (enlarged and swollen), which causes itching, burning, painful swellings at the anus, dyschezia (painful bowel movements), and bleeding.

Option C: Almost all women have more vaginal discharge in pregnancy. This is normal, and helps prevent any infections travelling up from the vagina to the womb. Towards the end of pregnancy, the amount of discharge increases further. In the last week or so of pregnancy, it may contain streaks of sticky, jelly-like pink mucus.

Option D: Dyspnea can begin before any upward displacement of the diaphragm, suggesting that factors other than mechanical pressure may be involved. It probably results from the subjective awareness of hyperventilation that is universally present in pregnancy. Hyperventilation in pregnancy is predominantly due to an increase in the depth of the tidal volume, with little change in the respiratory rate

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