A pregnant patient with a thoracic-level spinal cord injury from a skiing accident is confined to a wheelchair for ambulation. What should the nurse encourage the patient to do during pregnancy?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Patients who use wheelchairs are taught to press the hands against the armrests and lift the buttocks up off the wheelchair seat for 5 seconds every hour to prevent the formation of pressure ulcers on the buttocks and posterior thighs. Encourage a pregnant woman to continue to perform this maneuver during pregnancy because the increased weight of a fetus increases the risk for pressure ulcer formation from additional compression. The nurse should not encourage the pregnant patient to hold the breath, tense abdominal muscles, or do pelvic rocking movements.

A Pregnant Patient with a Thoracic-Level Spinal Cord Injury from a Skiing