“I want to get pregnant as soon as possible now that I’m married,” a 4

“I want to get pregnant as soon as possible now that I’m married,” a 43-year-old female says to the nurse. Which of the following would be the most appropriate response by the nurse?

a. “Having a child will certainly cement your new marriage and give it a focus.”
b. “It’s understandable that your ‘biological clock is ticking’ and time is running out.”
c. “You’re right, once you hit menopause you won’t be able to have a child.”
d. “We will help you, but you need to know that there are more risks for you at your age.”

ESSAYBID ANSWER

ANS: D
An additional risk factor, regardless of race, is advancing age. Women aged 40 years and older have over three times the risk of dying of a pregnancy-related cause as women aged 30 to 39 years. Intrinsic maternal factors, such as increasing frequency of hypertension and a greater likelihood of uterine hemorrhage, help explain this increase in the mortality rate. The other responses are not therapeutic responses by the nurse. It is important for the nurse to educate the woman that there can be more risks associated with becoming pregnant after age 40.