Question

While the nurse is weighing and measuring a toddler during the child's annual checkup, the toddler's mother mentions that she is thinking of having another child. The toddler is small in stature and seems mildly developmentally delayed. His eyelid folds are short and his nose is flat. What do the toddler's characteristics suggest is the best advice the nurse can give this mother about pregnancy?

A. "Consider genetic counseling before another pregnancy."
B. "Your toddler's features are normal for his age."
C. "Prenatal vitamins can correct developmental delays."
D. "Another pregnancy should not be a concern."

Answer 1

The toddler's characteristics suggest that the mother should consider genetic counseling before having another child. This is due to the presence of signs that could indicate a genetic condition, making genetic counseling the most appropriate and precautious step.

Step-by-step explanation:

The toddler's characteristics of short eyelid folds, a flat nose, small stature, and mild developmental delays could indicate the presence of a genetic condition. Therefore, the best advice for the mother who is considering another pregnancy would be "Consider genetic counseling before another pregnancy." Genetic counseling can help to assess the risk of a genetic or chromosomal disorder in future offspring, particularly if there is a family history of genetic disorders or other risk factors present.

Prenatal vitamins are important for the health of the mother and the developing fetus, but they cannot correct developmental delays. Also, it is not accurate to claim that the toddler's features are normal for his age without further assessment, nor is it appropriate to say another pregnancy should not be a concern without taking the toddler's potential genetic condition into account.