A client in her 39th week of gestation arrives at the maternity clinic stating that earlier in her pregnancy, she experienced shortness of breath. However, for the past few days, she has been able to breathe easily, but she has also begun to experience increased urinary frequency. A nurse is assigned to perform the physical examination of the client. Which observation is most likely
Question
A client in her 39th week of gestation arrives at the maternity clinic stating that earlier in her pregnancy, she experienced shortness of breath. However, for the past few days, she has been able to breathe easily, but she has also begun to experience increased urinary frequency. A nurse is assigned to perform the physical examination of the client. Which observation is most likely
Solution
The observation that is most likely is that the baby has "dropped" or "lightened." This is a common occurrence in the final weeks of pregnancy, typically a few weeks before labor begins, but it can happen earlier.
When the baby drops, it descends lower into the mother's pelvis. This can relieve some of the pressure on the mother's diaphragm, making it easier for her to breathe. However, the downside is that the baby is now pressing more on the mother's bladder, which can increase urinary frequency.
So, in this case, the client's symptoms of easier breathing but increased urinary frequency suggest that the baby has likely dropped in preparation for labor.
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