Question

A nurse in an emergency department is caring for a client who is at 9 weeks of gestation and reports nausea and vomiting for the past 2 days. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

A. Positive fetal movement
B. Weight loss
C. Elevated blood pressure
D. Decreased urinary frequency

Answer 1

A client at 9 weeks of gestation with nausea and vomiting is likely to experience weight loss due to inability to retain food, which is influenced by pregnancy-related hormone changes and decreased intestinal peristalsis.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse caring for a client at 9 weeks of gestation reporting nausea and vomiting can expect several findings common in early pregnancy. Among the options provided, weight loss is a possibility due to persistent nausea and the client's inability to retain food, which is often caused by increased pregnancy-related hormones and decreased intestinal peristalsis. Positive fetal movement is not typically perceived until about week 20, elevated blood pressure is not a typical symptom associated with early pregnancy nausea, and decreased urinary frequency would be unusual since the growing uterus at this stage does not significantly compress the bladder yet; increased frequency is more common. Therefore, the nurse should expect B. Weight loss in a client at 9 weeks gestation experiencing significant nausea and vomiting