When administering diazepam, what aspect of fetal health must be monitored?

When administering diazepam, what aspect of fetal health must be monitored?

• A. Fetal heart tones
• B. Maternal blood pressure
• C. Presence of contractions
• D. Fetal positioning

Answer: (A)

Monitoring fetal heart tones is essential when administering diazepam because diazepam is a benzodiazepine that can cross the placenta and affect the fetal system. Assessing fetal heart tones provides valuable information regarding the baby's wellbeing and helps detect any potential distress that could arise from the medication's effects on fetal cardiovascular and central nervous systems. Changes in fetal heart rate can indicate the need for immediate intervention, making it a crucial aspect of monitoring in this context. While monitoring maternal blood pressure is important for overall maternal and fetal health, particularly since diazepam can cause sedation, focusing on fetal heart tones allows for direct observation of the fetus's response to the medication. Similarly, while assessing the presence of contractions and fetal positioning is part of routine prenatal care, they are less directly related to the potential effects of diazepam on the fetus compared to fetal heart tones. Thus, the priority in this scenario is the assessment of fetal heart tones to ensure fetal safety and appropriate response to treatment.

Monitoring fetal heart tones is essential when administering diazepam because diazepam is a benzodiazepine that can cross the placenta and affect the fetal system. Assessing fetal heart tones provides valuable information regarding the baby's wellbeing and helps detect any potential distress that could arise from the medication's effects on fetal cardiovascular and central nervous systems. Changes in fetal heart rate can indicate the need for immediate intervention, making it a crucial aspect of monitoring in this context.

While monitoring maternal blood pressure is important for overall maternal and fetal health, particularly since diazepam can cause sedation, focusing on fetal heart tones allows for direct observation of the fetus's response to the medication. Similarly, while assessing the presence of contractions and fetal positioning is part of routine prenatal care, they are less directly related to the potential effects of diazepam on the fetus compared to fetal heart tones. Thus, the priority in this scenario is the assessment of fetal heart tones to ensure fetal safety and appropriate response to treatment.