Final answer:
When auscultating the heart of a client with a cardiac disorder of pregnancy, abnormal heart sounds or murmurs may be heard, indicating issues such as valvular disorders or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. An echocardiogram may be ordered for a more definitive diagnosis.
Step-by-step explanation:
When you auscultate the heart of a client with a cardiac disorder (CD) of pregnancy, you are quite likely to hear abnormal heart sounds. Auscultation involves using a stethoscope to listen for these sounds, which normally include a 'lub' sound from the closing of the atrioventricular valves and a 'dub' sound from the closing of the semilunar valves. However, in patients with certain conditions, such as a valvular disorder or septal defects, you may hear additional sounds or murmurs. These additional sounds can indicate issues such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which is a pathological enlargement of the heart. Moreover, heart murmurs can be amplified when the patient breathes deeply, which can help the clinician discern between different types of murmurs. An echocardiogram is often ordered if a valvular disorder is suspected, which is an imaging test that can provide a more definitive diagnosis.