Question

A client's membranes rupture spontaneously during the latent phase of the first stage of labor, and the fluid is greenish brown. What does the nurse conclude?

A. Infection is present
B. Cesarean birth is necessary
C. Precipitate birth is imminent
D. Fetus may be compromised in utero

Answer 1

When a client's membranes rupture spontaneously during the latent phase of the first stage of labor and the fluid is greenish brown, the nurse may conclude that the fetus may be compromised in utero.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a client's membranes rupture spontaneously during the latent phase of the first stage of labor and the fluid is greenish brown, the nurse may conclude that the fetus may be compromised in utero. The greenish brown fluid suggests the presence of meconium, which is the baby's first stool. Meconium staining may indicate fetal distress, as the baby may have passed stool before birth, which can be a sign of oxygen deprivation.