Question

A 32 year old primipara who is 8 weeks' gestation asks you if she should expect any respiratory changes as her pregnancy progresses. What should the nurse tell her?

A. "By the third trimester, you will no longer feel as though you're short of breath."
B. "If you develop shortness of breath, it should improve in the last few weeks of your pregnancy, as lightening occurs."
C. "Shortness of breath is an abnormal finding during any stage of pregnancy, and it's considered a serious complication."
D. "You may experience shortness of breath due to stretching of the round ligament."

Answer 1

Expectant mothers may experience an increase in respiratory minute volume and shortness of breath due to growing uterine pressure on the diaphragm. This typically improves during the end of pregnancy due to the lightening process. The correct answer is B, indicating that shortness of breath usually improves as the fetus descends in the last few weeks.

Step-by-step explanation:

A 32-year-old primipara who is 8 weeks' gestation may expect some respiratory changes as her pregnancy progresses. During the second half of pregnancy, a woman experiences an increase of roughly 50 percent in respiratory minute volume to meet the growing oxygen demands of the fetus and her own increased metabolic rate.

As the uterus grows, it can exert upward pressure on the diaphragm, leading to decreased inspiration volume and potential shortness of breath, also known as dyspnea. Lightening occurs in the last few weeks of pregnancy, as the pelvis becomes more elastic and the fetus descends lower, which typically relieves dyspnea.

Consequently, the correct answer to the question is B: "If you develop shortness of breath, it should improve in the last few weeks of your pregnancy, as lightening occurs."