A woman who is 10 weeks pregnant is being counseled by the nurse ...

[rmenurse]

A woman who is 10 weeks pregnant is being counseled by the nurse regarding her upcoming elective abortion. What information should the nurse provide?
 
  A.
  A local anesthetic will be injected into your vagina.
  B.
  The exact name of the procedure is dilation and extraction.
  C.
  They may use a seaweed product to dilate your cervix.
  D.
  You won't need to have any cervical dilation at all.

Question 2

A woman had an elective surgical abortion 7 weeks ago and calls the clinic to ask when her menstrual periods should return. What response by the nurse is most appropriate?
 
  A.
  I will ask the physician to prescribe misoprostol (Cytotec).
  B.
  It usually takes 1 to 3 months for your menstrual periods to return.
  C.
  Please come in to the clinic today for a checkup.
  D.
  You should be seen in the emergency department.

[babybsemail]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: C
Vacuum aspiration is the most common method for surgical abortion for pregnancies up to 12 weeks' gestation. After 7 weeks, cervical dilation is often accomplished with laminaria, a dried seaweed product. For a pregnancy that is 5-7 weeks' gestation, no dilation is needed. A local anesthetic is injected into the cervix in women who are between 8 and 12 weeks' gestation because of the need for mechanical dilation. A dilation and extraction is the term for abortions performed during the second trimester.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: C
Short-term complications from surgical abortions include fever, abdominal pain, prolonged or heavy bleeding with large clots, foul-smelling vaginal discharge, and no menstrual period within 6 weeks. The woman should be advised to come in for a checkup. Cytotec is used to help dilate the cervix and is inappropriate here. The woman does not need to go to the emergency department.

[rmenurse]

Thank you

[babybsemail]

Happy to help you