A 32-year-old laboring patient demonstrates cervical dilatation of 9 cm. Her contractions are two minutes apart and 60 to 90 seconds in duration. She complains of excruciating rectal pressure. How should the nurse interpret this complaint?
A)The patient's complaint is congruent with her current stage of labor.
B)The patient's complaint may indicate the need for delivery via cesarean section.
C)Based upon the patient's complaint, she is experiencing the active phase of labor.
D)The patient's complaint is consistent with placental separation, which is normal for her current stage of labor.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Excruciating rectal pressure is a common complaint during the second stage of labor when the baby's head begins to descend down the birth canal and put pressure on the rectum. In this case, the patient is demonstrating cervical dilatation of 9 cm, indicating that she is in the second stage of labor. Additionally, her contractions are close together and of sufficient duration, further supporting the diagnosis of the second stage of labor. Therefore, the nurse should interpret the patient's complaint as congruent with her current stage of labor.

A 32-Year-Old Laboring Patient Demonstrates Cervical Dilatation of 9 Cm