Health Promotion and MaintenanceQuestion 1072 of 2368
A client at 37 weeks reports that it is easier to breathe but now urinates more often. The nurse should explain that these changes are most likely caused by which event?
- Softening and thinning of the amniotic membranes
- Release of mucus from the cervical opening
- The fetal head dropping into the maternal pelvis
- Mild contractions that do not change the cervix
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Correct answer: The fetal head dropping into the maternal pelvis
Lightening is the fetal head dropping into the pelvis, which eases breathing and adds bladder pressure.
Source: Nursing Health Promotion (Open RN, Chippewa Valley Technical College, 2025), Labor & Delivery Care: Early Signs and Symptoms of Impending Labor. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Practice the topic "Health Promotion and Maintenance"Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026