NURS 461 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Prenatal Diagnosis, Chorionic Villi, Cardiotocography
Document Summary
The purpose of antenatal fetal screening and testing is to: Determine the need for further intervention including delivery of the fetus. Testing is individualized and is performed if there is reason to believe the fetus has a problem or if maternal risk factors indicate the likelihood that a problem may develop at some time during the pregnancy. Maternal risk factors that might lead to antenatal testing include: Pre-existing medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, or anemia. Demographic factors such as maternal age (younger than 17 or older than 35), family history of a genetic disorder, poverty, or inadequate prenatal care. Concurrent maternal factors such as excessive weight gain, inadequate or poor pattern of weight gain, or less than/greater than ideal weight at time of conception. The nurse"s role should start with forming a therapeutic relationship with the expectant mother, which will help in assessing the woman"s understanding of the procedure being performed as well as the indication for testing.
