Some pregnant patients may complain of changes in their voice and impaired hearing. The nurse can tell these patients that these are common reactions to:

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C because during pregnancy, hormonal changes can lead to congestion and swelling in the upper respiratory tract due to increased vascularity. This can result in changes in voice and impaired hearing. Estrogen levels (choice A) typically increase during pregnancy and do not directly cause these symptoms. Displacement of the diaphragm (choice B) may occur but is more related to breathing changes rather than voice and hearing issues. Increased blood volume (choice D) is a common physiological change in pregnancy but is not directly associated with voice and hearing changes.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Glycosuria. In pregnant women, glycosuria is considered a variation of normal due to the hormonal changes affecting glucose metabolism. During pregnancy, the renal threshold for glucose is lowered, leading to glucose spillage in urine without significant pathology. Proteinuria (A) can indicate kidney damage. Bacteria in the urine (C) suggest a possible urinary tract infection. Ketones in the urine (D) may indicate a metabolic disorder or inadequate carbohydrate intake. Glycosuria in pregnancy is a physiological adaptation and not necessarily a cause for concern.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Physiologic anemia during pregnancy occurs due to the expansion of plasma volume, causing a dilution of hemoglobin concentration. Increased blood volume is necessary to support the growing fetus, leading to a relative decrease in hemoglobin levels. Inadequate iron intake (Choice A) can cause iron-deficiency anemia but is not the primary reason for physiologic anemia in pregnancy. The fetus establishing iron stores (Choice C) is unrelated to the maternal anemia. Decreased production of erythrocytes (Choice D) is not the main cause of anemia in pregnancy; rather, it is the dilution effect from increased plasma volume.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Step-by-step rationale for choice A (Identification of fetal heartbeat) being correct: 1. Detection of fetal heartbeat confirms the presence of a developing fetus. 2. It is a definitive sign of pregnancy and indicates fetal viability. 3. Fetal heartbeat can be detected using ultrasound or Doppler. 4. This sign is not subject to interpretation or misinterpretation. Summary of why the other choices are incorrect: - Choice B (Palpation of fetal outline) and D (Verification of fetal movement) are considered probable signs of pregnancy and do not provide definitive confirmation. - Choice C (Visualization of the fetus) is not a reliable sign as it requires advanced imaging techniques and can be subjective.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.