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A nurse is providing teaching to a client about the physiological changes that occur during pregnancy. The client is 10 wks gestation and has a BMI w/in the expected reference range. Which of the following client statements indicates an understanding of the teaching?

a. "I can expect a decrease in blood volume during pregnancy."
b. "I should gain less weight if my BMI is within the normal range."
c. "My heart rate will likely decrease as my pregnancy progresses."
d. "Increased progesterone may lead to decreased respiratory rate."

User LcSalazar
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

None of the client's statements indicates an accurate understanding of the physiological changes during pregnancy, as blood volume and respiratory rate increase, while heart rate moderately increases, not decreases.

Step-by-step explanation:

During pregnancy, various physiological changes occur to support the developing fetus. One significant change is an increase in maternal blood volume, which rises by about 30 percent. This is necessary to accommodate the needs of both the mother and the fetus, ensuring efficient nutrient delivery and waste removal. Furthermore, the respiratory minute volume increases by 50 percent during the latter half of pregnancy to meet the greater oxygen demands. Consequently, the statement about expecting a decrease in blood volume (Option A) is incorrect.



Regarding weight gain, it is expected across various sites including the breasts, abdominal region, as well as the growing fetus, amniotic fluid, and placenta. This means that the notion of needing to gain less weight if one's BMI is within the normal range (Option B) does not correlate with the physiological need for weight gain during a healthy pregnancy. As for the heart rate, it typically increases moderately rather than decreases (Option C), to support the increased circulation demands during pregnancy.



Increased levels of progesterone do not lead to a decreased respiratory rate; rather, they are associated with increased respiratory rate to manage the extra oxygen requirements (Option D). Therefore, none of the client's statements in the options provided indicate an accurate understanding of the physiological changes that occur during pregnancy.

User TGasdf
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