A 32 - year - old G3P2 client at 34 weeks’ gestation comes to the facility due to contractions, which started about two hours ago. The contractions occur every 5 minutes. Assessment findings include cervical dilatation at 3 cm and effacement at 50%. Amniotic fluid leakage is negative. The fetal heart rate is 155 beats per minute and is reactive. The client is administered with magnesium sulfate through the intravenous route and with oral ampicillin. The midwife administers which of the following medications as an additional pharmacological treatment?
Explanation
Answer: A - The midwife administers betamethasone as an additional pharmacological treatment. The client is in premature labor, based on the assessment findings. Betamethasone is a corticosteroid that is mainly used to decrease the risk of respiratory distress syndrome by stimulating the production of surfactant. It is also used to prevent intracranial hemorrhaging. It is administered through intramuscular injections. The other options are incorrect. Ampicillin is administered to prevent group B streptococcal disease, so adding penicillin is not necessary. Tertbutaline, a tocolytic, is not necessary because magnesium sulfate, another tocolytic, has been initiated. Gentamicin is administered to treat chorioamnionitis.
