A pregnant patient is concerned that the baby is going to drown in the uterus because of the fluid. What should the nurse respond about fetal respiration?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Fetal circulation differs from extrauterine circulation because the fetus derives oxygen and excretes carbon dioxide not from gas exchange in the lung but from exchange in the placenta. The baby's lungs are not functioning in utero so the response that the baby's breathing is very minor until delivery and the baby's lungs being able to accommodate the fluid are incorrect. The patient is not "breathing for the baby."

A Pregnant Patient Is Concerned That the Baby Is Going