Question

How can the nurse verify if the membranes have ruptured?

a) Check the cervix dilation
b) Test fluid with Nitrazine paper
c) Measure the fetal heart rate
d) Perform a pelvic examination

Answer 1

The amniotic membranes can be checked for rupture by using Nitrazine paper and conducting a pelvic examination to observe for amniotic fluid in the vagina or leaking from the cervical os.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine if the amniotic membranes have ruptured, a nurse can conduct several assessments and tests. The following options are available:

• Test fluid with Nitrazine paper: Nitrazine paper can be used to test the pH of the fluid to see if it is amniotic fluid, which has a different pH than normal vaginal secretions.
• Perform a pelvic examination: In a sterile speculum exam, the healthcare provider can visually check for pooling of amniotic fluid in the vagina or observe fluid leaking from the cervical os. Sometimes the examination might involve looking for the presence of ferning under a microscope, which is a pattern that amniotic fluid creates when it dries on a slide.

While checking the cervix dilation and measuring the fetal heart rate are important aspects of labor monitoring, they are not direct methods for verifying the rupture of membranes.