Essentials of Maternity, Newborn, and Women’s Health Nursing
Chapter 11: Maternal Adaptation During Pregnancy
1. Jessica and Mike are new clients at your obstetrics office. You are asking them about the reason for their visit. Jessica says she thinks she is pregnant because she missed a period. Mike tells you Jessica is always nauseated in the morning and eats all the time the rest of the day. They have not been using birth control and have wanted to have children since they got married last summer. Jessica says her clothes are feeling tighter and her breasts seem tender. Mike says he has noticed that Jessica has been frequently getting up to go to the bathroom at night. (Learning Objectives 2 and 4)
- What subjective symptoms have led Jessica and Mike to presume she is pregnant? What other conditions could be the cause of Jessica’s symptoms? How can a pregnancy be confirmed as probable? Diagnosed as positive?
- Discuss the nutritional needs of Jessica and her baby.
- Explain to Beth (in terms she can understand) what general body adaptations she will experience throughout the remainder of her pregnancy.
- What psychosocial adaptations may Beth experience as a result of being a teenage, single mother living at home?
- What questions might the nurse have asked Emily to determine that she may be in true labor? What prenatal history information should the nurse have obtained during the telephone call?
- Explain the meaning of the nurse’s assessment findings. Identify the stage and phase of labor, listing the physiologic and psychological changes during this stage. What positions and activities would be appropriate for Emily based on the assessment data? Why?
- Describe the nursing interventions that would be appropriate for the nurse to implement based on Emily’s statement that “I think I just wet my pants.” Essentials of Maternity, Newborn, and Women’s Health Nursing
- Given your understanding of the 5 P’s and the cardinal movements of labor, discuss why Diane is having back labor and why her progress is slow.
- What strategies may the nurse implement to assist Diane in progressing in her labor?
