Unit 13 Discussion

Pregnancy Exam

A 24-year-old patient who has never been pregnant before presents after having a positive home pregnancy test. She has no significant medical history. She denies symptoms and is worried because she has not felt the baby move thus far. Her last period was June 15 and today is August 20.

What are three questions you would ask this patient?

What would be her gestational age and expected due date?

How would you address her concern of not feeling the baby move?

Your response should include evidence of review of the course material, websites, and literature through proper citations using APA format.

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Pregnancy Exam

Introduction

Pregnancy is a time of great joy, but it can also be incredibly challenging. For women who are pregnant, there’s a lot to think about. The first thing many people notice is their weight gain — and it’s important that you know what causes this so that you can make healthy changes in your diet and exercise regimen.

1. Which of the following may be associated with an increased risk of pregnancy complications?

• Excessive exercise.

• Tobacco use.

• Iron deficiency anemia.

• All of the above

A. Excessive exercise

• Exercise can help with weight gain, which is a good thing during pregnancy.

• Exercise also helps reduce stress and anxiety, which are common during this time.

• You’ll sleep better if you exercise regularly—and studies show that exercise improves your chances of getting adequate rest throughout the night. Plus, it makes you feel more relaxed overall!

• If you’re feeling stressed out or depressed about what’s going on in your life (or if something else comes up), working out can be just what the doctor ordered to get things back on track. Getting fit will make you feel better about yourself as well as boost self-confidence levels so that when things do go wrong later in life (like losing a job), there won’t be any regrets about not doing anything about it sooner—especially since exercising regularly has been shown time after time again over decades worth of research studies conducted worldwide at universities such as Harvard University Medical School where they’ve found

B. Tobacco use

Tobacco use during pregnancy increases the risk of:

• Premature birth. This is when the baby comes before 37 weeks (or six months) of pregnancy. It’s not uncommon for babies born prematurely to die or suffer serious disabilities, including cerebral palsy and other brain damage.

• Low birth weight. Babies born at or below 5 pounds 10 ounces are at increased risk for premature delivery, low Apgar score (a measure used to evaluate how well a newborn is doing), and other problems during infancy and childhood.* Stillbirths.* Infants who experience sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) may die suddenly from lack of oxygen at night when they sleep alone in bed with their parents gone out for dinner.* Increased risk for infant death in the first year of life.* Reduced ability to fight infection as well as build up resistance against disease later on down the road due  to nicotine exposure during gestation period leading up until birth

C. Iron deficiency anemia

Iron deficiency anemia is a common cause of pregnancy complications. It can lead to low birth weight and preterm delivery (15). Iron deficiency anemia may also cause maternal fatigue and weakness (16).

Iron supplements are the mainstay treatment for iron deficiency anemia, but some women will require transfusions in order to increase their blood volume sufficiently enough that they can deliver their babies safely.

D. All of the above

• All of the above are associated with an increased risk of pregnancy complications.

• Excessive exercise can lead to dehydration, which can lead to a decrease in blood volume and a decrease in blood pressure.

• Tobacco use may increase your risk of miscarriage and preterm birth.

Takeaway:

The takeaway from this test is that you should be aware of the symptoms of any potential pregnancy, but most importantly, know when to seek medical attention. If you suspect you may be pregnant or have a medical condition that could cause complications with your pregnancy, then it’s important not to wait until later on in your cycle to get checked out by a healthcare provider.

Conclusion

If you feel any of these signs during your pregnancy, it’s important to contact your healthcare provider immediately. You can also take comfort in knowing that most pregnancy complications are treatable and don’t need to end in a miscarriage or birth defect. If any of these symptoms persist, consider visiting a doctor or midwife who specializes in prenatal care.