Maternity Nursing Q 193
Which of the following signs will distinguish threatened abortion from imminent abortion?
A. Severity of bleeding.
B. Dilation of the cervix.
C. Nature and location of pain.
D. Presence of uterine contraction.
Correct Answer: B. Dilation of the cervix
In imminent abortion, the pregnancy will definitely be terminated because the cervix is already open unlike in threatened abortion where the cervix is still closed.
Option A: Nearly 25% of pregnant women have some degree of vaginal bleeding during the first two trimesters and about 50% of these progress to loss of the pregnancy. The bleeding during a threatened abortion is typically mild to moderate.
Option C: A threatened abortion occurs when a pregnant patient at less than 20 weeks gestation presents with vaginal bleeding. The cervical os is closed on a physical exam. The patient may also experience abdominal cramping, pelvic pain, pelvic pressure, and/or back pain.
Option D: A pelvic exam is mandatory to determine the type of abortion. Determining factors include the amount and site of bleeding, whether the cervix is dilated, and whether fetal tissue has passed. In a threatened abortion, the vaginal exam may reveal a closed cervical os with no tissue. There is usually no cervical motion tenderness.