A nurse is caring for a client in the prenatal clinic who has a possible ectopic pregnancy at 8 weeks of gestation.Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
Explanation & Rationale
Choice A rationale:Severe nausea and vomiting are not typically associated with an ectopic pregnancy at 8 weeks of gestation. Instead, nausea and vomiting are common symptoms of a normal intrauterine pregnancy due to hormonal changes. Ectopic pregnancies often present with different symptoms, such as pelvic pain and vaginal bleeding.Choice B rationale:Pelvic pain is a common and concerning symptom of an ectopic pregnancy. It occurs because the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube, which can lead to pain and discomfort as the pregnancy progresses.Choice C rationale:Uterine enlargement greater than expected for gestational age is not a typical finding in an ectopic pregnancy. In an ectopic pregnancy, the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, so uterine enlargement is usually not evident or is less than expected for the gestational age.Choice D rationale:Copious vaginal bleeding is a possible but not specific finding in an ectopic pregnancy. While vaginal bleeding can occur, it is often not as heavy as the bleeding associated with a miscarriage or a normal intrauterine pregnancy. Pelvic pain is usually the more prominent symptom.