50. A client who is pregnant asks a nurse about when she should be able to hear her baby's heart sounds at her physician's appointment. The nurse tells her that fetal heart tones can first be heard using a Doppler at approximately:
50. A client who is pregnant asks a nurse about when she should be able to hear her baby's heart sounds at her physician's appointment. The nurse tells her that fetal heart tones can first be heard using a Doppler at approximately:
Test-Taking Tip
The question asks when the heart tones can first be heard. The question requires careful reading to choose the correct response. Generally, it is best to avoid options with extreme numbers (i.e., 6 weeks and 22 weeks).
Content Area: Maternity, Antepartum; Integrated Process: Teaching and Learning; Cognitive Level: Application; Client Need/Subneed: Health Promotion and Maintenance/Ante/Intra/Postpartum and Newborn Care
.
Answer 1 is incorrect because, at 6 weeks' gestation, the fetal heart is beating, but the Doppler is unable to detect the fetal heart tones. Answer 2 is correct because fetal heart tones can first be heard using a Doppler at about 11 to 12 weeks' gestation. Answer 3 is incorrect because the Doppler is able to first detect fetal heart tones at 11 to 12 weeks; by 18 weeks, they are easily heard. Answer 4 is incorrect because the Doppler is able to first detect fetal heart tones at 11 to 12 weeks; by 22 weeks, they are easily heard and the client can also usually feel fetal movement by this time point in gestation.
