A nurse must inform a pregnant mother and her partner that their child may have a congenital anomaly. Of the best practices listed below, which would take priority?

A. Refer the couple to a geneticist: Referral to a specialist is important for counseling and diagnostic evaluation, but it follows the initial emotional support. Addressing emotions first ensures the couple can process information and participate effectively in decision-making. B. Give the parents information about support groups: Providing resources is helpful for ongoing support, but it is secondary to acknowledging and responding to the couple’s immediate emotional needs. Early emotional support fosters coping and understanding. C. Assess and address the couple's emotions: Delivering potentially distressing news requires sensitivity to the couple’s emotional state. Assessing and supporting their feelings helps reduce anxiety, promotes trust, and prepares them to receive complex medical information. This is the priority intervention. D. Warn the parents about Internet information: While guiding parents toward reliable sources is useful, it is not the first priority. Emotional support must precede discussions about external resources to prevent misinterpretation and heightened distress.