McKinney: Maternal-Child Nursing, 4th Edition

Chapter 13: Adaptations to Pregnancy

Answer Key – Answers to Critical Thinking Exercises

Critical Thinking Exercise 13-1

1. If pregnant now, Jenny is gravida 3, para 1 (the twin birth counts as one parous
experience).
1.
2. Amenorrhea, nausea, and vomiting are only presumptive indications of pregnancy
because they can be caused by conditions other than pregnancy.
2.
3. Count back 3 months to May 22, and add 7 days. This brings the date to May 29. Add 1
to the current year.

Critical Thinking Exercise 13-2

1. Emma will have less time and will have less energy than with her first pregnancy. She

will need to plan ways to help her 2-year-old cope with sharing his parents with a new baby.

2. Respond by acknowledging Emma’s concerns and reflecting her feelings so that she can

fully express how she feels: “You are concerned your son will be upset when the new baby is

born,” or “You are afraid that your son will have difficulty sharing you with the baby.”

3. Suggest that Emma make any changes in sleeping arrangements now so that her son will

not feel displaced by the infant. Recommend that she plan ways to have time alone with the

him when the baby arrives, and review measures to reduce sibling rivalry. The mother can

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tell her son how much she loves him and hug and cuddle him frequently. She can remind

others to pay attention to her son as well as to the new baby.

Elsevier items and derived items © 2013, 2009, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.