Question

A client who is primigravida at term comes to the prenatal clinic and tells the PN that she is having contractions every 5 minutes. The PN monitors the client for 1 hour using a external fetal monitor and determines that the clients contractions are 7 to 15 minutes apart lasting 20-30 seconds with mild intensity by palpation. What action should the PN take?

Answer 1

The PN should educate the client about false labor and provide strategies to manage discomfort.

Step-by-step explanation:

Based on the information provided, the contractions experienced by the client are not consistent with true labor. True labor contractions become more frequent and intense over time, whereas the contractions experienced by the client are irregular and relatively mild in intensity. Therefore, it is unlikely that the client is in active labor at this time.

As the contractions are not meeting the criteria for active labor, the PN should educate the client about false labor and techniques to manage discomfort. The client can be advised to change positions, take a warm bath, or use relaxation techniques to relieve the discomfort caused by the contractions. The client should also be encouraged to rest and monitor for any changes in the intensity and frequency of contractions. If the contractions become more regular and intense, the client should contact their healthcare provider for further evaluation.

In summary, based on the irregularity and mild intensity of the contractions, the PN should educate the client about false labor and provide strategies to manage discomfort. The client should rest, change positions, and monitor for any changes in the contractions, and contact their healthcare provider if the contractions become more regular and intense.