Question

"A pregnant woman at 25 weeks of gestation tells the nurse that she dropped a pan last week and her baby jumped at the noise. Which response by the nurse is most accurate?

a.That must have been a coincidence; babies can't respond like that.
b.The fetus is demonstrating the aural reflex.
c.Babies respond to sound starting at approximately 24 weeks of gestation.
d.Let me know if it happens again; we need to report that to your midwife.

Answer 1

The correct response is that babies can start to respond to sounds at approximately 24 weeks of gestation option (c). This is part of the normal development of the fetus's senses and reflexes, which continue to progress and mature until birth.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most accurate response by the nurse to a pregnant woman at 25 weeks of gestation who reports her baby jumped at the noise of a dropped pan is: c. Babies respond to sound starting at approximately 24 weeks of gestation. This is because, during the fetal stage, the development of the senses progresses and by around 24 weeks, the fetus can start to hear sounds from the external environment. This capacity for hearing continues to develop and is fully functional at birth, as newborns show a preference for human voices, particularly their mother's voice.

Reflexes are also present at this stage, enabling the fetus to respond to various stimuli. Such reactions are not coincidences but are rather indicative of sensory and neural development. Therefore, reporting this to the midwife is unnecessary unless the patient experiences other concerns that may need assessment.