Question

The nurse is teaching a pregnant woman about the physiological effects and hormone changes that occur during pregnancy. The woman asks the nurse about the purpose of estrogen. The nurse bases the response on which of the following purposes of estrogen?

a.It maintains the uterine lining for implantation
b. It stimulates the metabolism of glucose and coverts glucose to fat
c. It prevents the involution of the corpus luteum, and maintains the production of progesterone until the placenta is formed
d. it stimulates uterine development to provide an environment for the fetus, and stimulates the breasts to prepare for lactation

Answer 1

Estrogen during pregnancy maintains the pregnancy, ensures fetal viability, stimulates the growth of maternal and fetal tissues, supports uterine development, and prepares the breasts for lactation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The purpose of estrogen during pregnancy is multifaceted. Primarily, estrogen helps to maintain the pregnancy, promotes fetal viability, and stimulates tissue growth in both the mother and the developing fetus. Moreover, it plays a significant role in stimulating uterine development to provide a nurturing environment for the fetus and prepares the breasts for lactation, which aligns with answer choice 'd' provided in the question.

Additionally, estrogen works in tandem with progesterone to suppress the production of new ovarian follicles, prevent uterine contractions, and support the formation and function of the placenta, which takes over the production of these hormones as the pregnancy advances.