A woman is in labor. The fetus is in vertex position. When the patient's membranes rupture, the nurse sees that the amniotic fluid is meconium-stained. The nurse should immediately:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Meconium-stained amniotic fluid indicates that the fetus may have passed meconium, which can lead to respiratory distress if inhaled. Continuous fetal heart rate monitoring will allow the nurse to monitor the fetus for distress and take appropriate actions if necessary. Changing the patient's position and administering oxygen may also be necessary, but they should be done after monitoring the fetal heart rate. Notifying the physician is important but is not the immediate action required in this situation.

A Woman Is in Labor