Discussion: Care Plans for PregnancAfter confirming and dating a pregnancy, you must collaborate with patients to develop a personalized care plan. These pregnancy care plans are integral to prenatal care as they help to ensure the mother and child's well-being throughout the entire pregnancy.

Pregnancy can be a wonderful, yet difficult time for women as a woman's body goes through many physical, mental, and emotional changes that might be challenging or even overwhelming for some.

Whether or not these women share their concerns, as the advanced practice nurse, you must routinely watch for signs and symptoms of any developing physical or mental health issues. By collaborating with patients and discussing concerns, you can modify care plans and often address potential issues before they become a significant health problem.

For this Discussion, consider pregnancy care plans for the women in the following case studies:Case Study 1:On 1-15-13, you are seeing a 25-year-old Caucasian female in the clinic because she believes she's pregnant. Her LMP was 12-1-12. Her home pregnancy test was positive, and she has been having nausea and breast tenderness.

To prepare:

Review Chapter 30 of the Schuiling and Likis text and Chapter 2 of the Tharpe et al. text.

Review and select one of the two provided case studies. Analyze the patient information.

Consider how to date the pregnancy and estimate the date of delivery for the patient in the case study you selected.

Based on the dating of the pregnancy, reflect on the appropriate clinical guidelines for procedures and screenings. Think about the implications of any missed procedures or screenings.

Determine a plan of care for the patient. Identify procedures, screenings, diagnostic testing, pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments (if appropriate), management strategies, and patient education.

Post the estimated date of delivery for the patient (EDD), in the case study. Include an explanation of how you dated a pregnancy and which of the patient's factors led to your estimated date of delivery.

Then, based on the dating of the patient's pregnancy, explain the appropriate clinical guidelines for procedures and screenings.

Explain implications of any missed procedures and/or screenings.

Finally, explain a plan of care for the patient, including procedures, screenings, diagnostic testing, pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments, management strategies, and patient education.

Here are some recommended:

1.Schuiling, K. D., & Likis, F. E. (2017). Women's gynecologic health (3rd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

2.Tharpe, N. L., Farley, C., & Jordan, R. G. (2017). Clinical practice guidelines for midwifery & women's health (5th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Publishers.

3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012b). Women's health.

National Institutes of Health. (2012). Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH).

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.