Situation: Amara, a 28-year-old woman at 10 weeks gestation, presents to the prenatal clinic for her first obstetric visit. She reports no prior pregnancies and takes a daily prenatal vitamin. Background: She has a BMI of 24, BP 118/72, HR 78 bpm, and no significant past medical history. Assessment: Fundal height is consistent with gestational age. She asks why her primary health care provider recommended a first-trimester nuchal translucency ultrasound. Recommendation: The nurse is preparing to explain the purpose of the test. Which explanation best describes the primary purpose of the nuchal translucency ultrasound?
- It evaluates the fetal spine for neural tube defects such as spina bifida.
- It measures fluid at the fetal neck to screen for chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome.
- It confirms placental location to rule out placenta previa.
- It assesses fetal lung maturity to predict the risk of respiratory distress syndrome.