Question

You have been called for a 32-year-old female who is in active labor. During your assessment and interview, you note that she is 37 weeks along, this is her first child, and her contractions are 5 minutes apart. She also tells you that her pregnancy is considered "high risk." Your first concern should be:

A. preparing for the delivery.
B. calling for a back-up unit.
C. assembling your delivery kit.
D. getting to the hospital.

Answer 1

In the scenario of a 32-year-old female with a high-risk pregnancy and active labor, the first concern should be to prepare for delivery and assess for immediate needs, including potential transport to the hospital and necessary medical interventions like supplemental oxygen for prematurity.

Step-by-step explanation:

Understanding High-Risk Pregnancy and Active Labor The subject question relates to a 32-year-old female in active labor and classified with a high-risk pregnancy. Given that this is her first child, she is 37 weeks along, and her contractions are 5 minutes apart, it is crucial to prepare for delivery while ensuring all necessary precautions for a high-risk situation are ready. The first concern should be to assess the patient's immediate needs, which includes preparing for delivery, but also entails checking vital signs, fetal heart rate, and the mother's readiness for delivery.

In addition, calling for backup, assembling a delivery kit, and preparing for urgent transport to the hospital are essential steps, as the high-risk nature of the pregnancy may necessitate specialized care. When labor occurs, the cervix must dilate to about 10 cm for the baby to be born, and this process can be induced or augmented with Pitocin, a synthetic form of oxytocin, if labor stalls. For a premature infant, as in the case mentioned of the baby born at 30 weeks, medical interventions such as supplemental oxygen may be necessary due to their underdeveloped lungs.