Natural Family Planning: Basal Body Temperature Tracking - Essay Sample

Introduction

BBT can be described as a natural form of family planning, where the basal temperature (the body temperature when a person is fully at rest, for example, when waking up) is tracked daily. Its is observed that during ovulation, the basal body temperature of a woman slightly increases from the normal (Gallo, 2010). The benefit of this is that it can help a woman determine which days to have unprotected sex and which to have protected sex if conceiving is the issue. However, the main risk associated with the method is that it does not screen against sexually transmitted diseases, aside from only family planning. The temperature changes during ovulation validate the use of this method.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Signs of Pregnancy

Pregnancy signs and symptoms usually vary from one woman to another in the contemporary world. However, swollen breasts and getting huge are all signs of early pregnancy. The hormonal changes experienced by the body of a pregnant woman are responsible for the tingly feeling and swollen breasts, as well as enlargement of the body of the soon to be a mother (Tubay, 2016).

GP and GTPAL of D.H.

D.H, according to her maternal history, can be considered G5 P since she has had five pregnancies (Gravity) and only two pregnancies that reached the 20-25 weeks mark (Parity). Likewise, she can be considered to have G5T2P0A2L2 as per her maternal history. Where she has had five pregnancies, T- a birth number exceeding 38 weeks, P- pregnancy number where foetus reaches 20 weeks, A- number of abortions and L- living children number.

Ultrasound Performed on D.H.

In regards to the number of weeks that D.H. was pregnant, the most appropriate type of ultrasound that could be performed on her is the transvaginal scan. In the bid to make the scan safe and successful, the following instructions are usually given to a patient; a patient should empty their bladder, as a full bladder can life the intestines just a notch higher such that pelvic organs are easily visible (Marcin, 2017). Besides, if the patient has partial menstrual cycles, they have to remove their tampons to ensure the scan is set up usefully.

Expected Date of Delivery

The expected date of delivery for D.H. can be determined using Naegel's rule. In applying the rule to our given case, the patient under study is expected to conceive a baby by 9th December, provided the mother to be is healthy and taking doctor's instructions seriously. According to the rule, the estimated delivery date is given by determining the last menstrual period, subtracting three months from it, subsequently adding seven days and, finally adding one year to the resultant calculations (Baskett, 2005).

Question Asked to Patient After Provided Symptoms

The following questions are relevant given the case study facts: Was the first pregnancy normal? Do you have any idea of the preeclampsia condition? If yes, was it experienced in the first pregnancy? Have any doctors ever advised against second pregnancies?

Laboratory Values to be Considered

The relevant laboratory factors to be considered are oedema +2, proteinuria +2, negative glucose in urine and 142/94mmHg for blood pressure, which is all preeclampsia risk factors.

Preeclampsia Risk Factors

Preeclampsia refers to a condition where pregnant women experience high blood pressure, swelling of feet, protein in her urine, among other symptoms. Several risk factors are associated with preeclampsia. These factors include family history, egg donation, nulliparity, obesity and diabetes (English & Kenny, 2017). D.H, according to the information provided from the previous scenario, might be in danger of acquiring preeclampsia due to positive oedema (swelling of feet), diabetes due to no glucose found in system of patient, diabetes due to increased blood pressure, and nulliparity, due to the miscellaneous abortions that she has had over the years.

Preeclampsia Complications

Several complications are reported for preeclampsia. They include; foetal restriction growth, cardiovascular diseases, preterm birth and placental abruption (English & Kenny, 2017).

Physiologic Nursing Diagnosis

The safety needs that D.H is need of is living under stable conditions. Stable conditions would allow her body to be set and encourage physical exercises, which would enable her body organs to work effectively. As such, issues such as blood pressure, oedema and other lifestyle-related illnesses can be cured altogether.

References

Baskett, T. (2005, September). Naegele's Rule: a Reappraisal. Retrieved from Wiley library: https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1471-0528.2000.tb11661.x

English, F., & Kenny, L. (2017). Risk factors and effective management of preeclampsia. Retrieved from NCBI: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4354613/

Gallo, G. (2010, January). Basal Body Temperature Monitoring Contraceptive Method. Retrieved from Health Engine: https://healthengine.com.au/info/basal-body-temperature-monitoring-contraceptive-method

Marcin, J. (2017, June). What Is a Transvaginal Ultrasound? Retrieved from Health line: https://www.healthline.com/health/transvaginal-ultrasound

Tubay, D. (2016, March). What are some common signs of pregnancy? Retrieved from NICHD: https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/pregnancy/conditioninfo/signs