Question

The nurse is completing a health history with a client who is 10 weeks pregnant. Which factor should the nurse identify as increasing this clients risk for a spontaneous abortion?

Answer 1

Advanced maternal age increases the risk of spontaneous abortion due to chromosomal abnormalities like Down syndrome.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should identify advanced maternal age as increasing the client's risk for a spontaneous abortion. As a woman ages, the risk of chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down syndrome, increases. These abnormalities can lead to spontaneous abortions. In fact, the incidence of having a fetus with trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) increases dramatically with maternal age.