Which of the following clinical finding would not be seen during pregnancy?

NORCET 3 - 2022 (Shift-1)

Obstetrics and Midwifery Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: NORCET 3 - 2022 (Shift-1)

Explanation

Dysuria, which means painful or difficult urination, is not a normal physiological change during pregnancy.
It is a primary symptom of a urinary tract infection (UTI), a pathological condition that requires medical attention.
While pregnant women have an increased risk for UTIs, the symptom of dysuria itself is considered an abnormal finding.
Untreated UTIs in pregnancy can lead to serious complications, including pyelonephritis, preterm labor, and low birth weight.

Option A: Striae gravidarum, or stretch marks, are a very common and normal skin change during pregnancy, resulting from the stretching of the skin and hormonal influences.
Option B: Colostrum is the first form of milk produced by the mammary glands, starting as early as the second trimester. Its presence is a normal physiological sign of the breasts preparing for lactation.
Option C: Chloasma, also known as melasma or the 'mask of pregnancy', is a common and normal skin change characterized by hyperpigmentation on the face, caused by hormonal changes.

Visual 1: Image - An illustration showing striae gravidarum (stretch marks) on a pregnant abdomen to help students visualize this common change.
Visual 2: Image - A picture depicting chloasma (melasma) on a woman's face to illustrate the 'mask of pregnancy'.
Visual 3: Infographic - A chart comparing normal urinary symptoms in pregnancy (e.g., frequency) with abnormal symptoms (e.g., dysuria, hematuria) that indicate a UTI.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Normal and abnormal physiological changes during pregnancy helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
A key nursing responsibility is to educate pregnant patients on differentiating normal discomforts from warning signs. Dysuria must be reported immediately.
Prompt assessment and treatment of UTIs are critical to prevent complications like pyelonephritis, which increases the risk of preterm labor and sepsis.
Nursing interventions for a suspected UTI include obtaining a clean-catch urine specimen for analysis and culture, encouraging increased fluid intake, and teaching proper perineal hygiene.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the keyword 'not' in the question stem. This indicates you are looking for the option that is an exception or an abnormal finding.
Review each option and classify it as either a normal physiological change of pregnancy or an abnormal sign/symptom.
Recall or look up the common changes in the integumentary (skin), breast, and urinary systems during pregnancy.
Striae gravidarum, colostrum, and chloasma are all well-documented normal changes.
Dysuria (painful urination) is a classic sign of infection (UTI) and is therefore not a normal or expected finding.
Select the option that represents the abnormal finding.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Normal and abnormal physiological changes during pregnancy.
Stem keywords: clinical finding, pregnancy
Lead-in keywords: not
Negative lead-in flag: The question asks for the finding that would NOT be seen, indicating it is an exception-based question.

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