The nurse is educating clients who are attending a prenatal class.
Which of the following statements should the nurse include?
The nurse is educating clients who are attending a prenatal class.
Which of the following statements should the nurse include?
A. “Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) is typically performed in the third trimester.”
[5%]
B. “Maternal serum alpha-fetal protein (MSAFP) may determine the sex of the baby.”
[6%]
C. “Amniocentesis may be used to assess for chromosomal abnormalities.”
[83%]
D. “A contraction stress test (CST) is used to evaluate fetal lung maturity.”
[5%]
Statistics
Subject/Lesson
Subject
Maternal & Newborn Health
Lesson
Antepartum
Client Need
Test Plan
Health Promotion and Maintenance
Related Topic
Ante/Intra/Postpartum and Newborn Care
Item Type
Item Type
Knowledge/Comprehension
Explanation
Choice C is correct. Amniocentesis is a widely used antepartum test that may determine the sex of a fetus, the presence of neural tube defects, chromosomal abnormalities, and fetal lung maturity. This test may also be used therapeutically for polyhydramnios, as it may remove some excessive amniotic fluid volumes.
Choice A is incorrect. Chorionic villus sampling is performed in the first trimester, usually between 10 and 13 weeks’ gestation. It involves sampling placental tissue to obtain fetal cells for early genetic and chromosomal testing. It is not used in the third trimester, and suggesting so reflects an inaccurate understanding of timing and purpose. CVS does not assess for neural tube defects either, unlike amniocentesis.
Choice B is incorrect. MSAFP is a test that assesses neural tube defects, not sex. This test is a blood draw from the client and is done between 15 and 20 gestational weeks.
Choice D is incorrect. The contraction stress test evaluates uteroplacental sufficiency by monitoring the fetal heart rate in response to uterine contractions, either spontaneous or stimulated (e.g., via oxytocin). It is used to assess the risk of fetal hypoxia during labor, not fetal lung development. Fetal lung maturity is assessed using amniotic fluid analysis, specifically by testing the lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio or the presence of phosphatidylglycerol, both obtained through amniocentesis.
Additional Info
