When nurses help their expectant mothers assess the daily fetal movement counts, they should be aware that:

Question

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The fetal alarm signal should go off when fetal movements stop entirely for 12 hours. This is because a significant decrease or complete lack of fetal movement may indicate fetal distress, and immediate medical attention is necessary. Taking "kick counts" every half hour is not necessary and can cause unnecessary anxiety for the mother. Similarly, averaging the counts every 6 hours may lead to missed episodes of decreased fetal movement. It is true that alcohol and cigarette smoke can irritate the fetus, but they are not relevant to the assessment of fetal movement. Obese mothers may have difficulty assessing fetal movement due to increased layers of adipose tissue.

When Nurses Help Their Expectant Mothers Assess the Daily Fetal