Health Promotion and Maintenance
49. A client, who is 22 years old, gravida 1, para 0, is admitted to an obstetrics unit with contractions every 8 to 10 minutes. A physical assessment reveals that her cervix is 3 cm dilated, 100% effaced, and a 0 station. During the admission process, a nurse asks the couple about their plans for pain relief during labor. The client and her support person state they planned to use prepared childbirth techniques. Based on the information provided, which pain relief method should the nurse expect the couple to use during this phase of labor?
Choices
. Slow, deep breathing.
. Narcotic analgesia.
. Local anesthesia.
. Rapid, shallow breathing.
Question Hint
Test-Taking Tip
Eliminate the two options that focus on drugs, which would be the opposite of the couple's desire to use prepared childbirth techniques.
Content Area: Maternity, Intrapartum; Integrated Process: Nursing Process, Planning; Cognitive Level: Application; Client Need/Subneed: Health Promotion and Maintenance/Ante/Intra/Postpartum and Newborn Care
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Health Promotion and Maintenance
.
Answer 1 is correct because this client is in the latent phase of labor; their plan is to use prepared childbirth techniques. Slow, deep breathing and relaxation techniques are used to relieve contraction pain during this phase. Answer 2 is incorrect because minimizing the use of narcotics is preferred when prepared childbirth techniques are used. Answer 3 is incorrect because local anesthesia is used for numbing the perineum immediately before delivery of the fetus during the second stage of labor. Answer 4 is incorrect because rapid, shallow breathing can lead to hyperventilation and is inappropriate for any phase of labor.
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