Trimester-Specific Protocols Flashcards
7 cards from real PMC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Trimester-Specific Protocols flashcards as text
Which of the following describes the correct bolster positioning for a third-trimester client who must temporarily lie supine for a brief assessment?
Answer: Wedge under the right hip to shift the uterus leftward
A wedge under the right hip shifts the uterus to the left, relieving compression of the inferior vena cava which runs along the right side of the spine.
What physiological reason explains why a pregnant client may experience heartburn and shortness of breath during massage in the third trimester?
Answer: The enlarged uterus displaces the diaphragm superiorly and compresses the stomach
The growing uterus pushes the diaphragm upward and compresses the stomach, causing both respiratory restriction and gastric reflux.
How should a prenatal massage therapist modify work on the sacrum and sacroiliac joints in the third trimester?
Answer: Use only light effleurage; avoid sustained deep pressure that may destabilize hypermobile SI joints
Relaxin-induced ligamentous laxity makes the sacroiliac joints hypermobile in late pregnancy, so deep sustained pressure risks further destabilization.
A client at 32 weeks gestation reports sudden severe headache, blurred vision, and upper right quadrant abdominal pain during a session. The therapist should:
Answer: Stop the massage immediately and call 911 or instruct her to go to the ER
These are classic signs of severe preeclampsia or HELLP syndrome, which are life-threatening emergencies requiring immediate medical care.
What is the primary musculoskeletal reason that hip flexor work is particularly important for second- and third-trimester clients?
Answer: Anterior pelvic tilt from the growing belly chronically shortens the hip flexors
The shifting center of gravity in pregnancy increases lumbar lordosis and anterior pelvic tilt, leading to chronic hip flexor shortening.
Which of the following best describes the first-trimester concern often cited as a reason for caution during massage, though not fully supported by current evidence?
Answer: Massage may trigger miscarriage during the period of highest spontaneous miscarriage risk
While evidence linking massage to miscarriage is lacking, the high rate of spontaneous first-trimester miscarriage has led some practitioners to counsel clients about this coincidental timing.
When performing leg massage on a pregnant client, why is it important to avoid vigorous deep tissue work on the calves throughout all trimesters?
Answer: Pregnancy increases DVT risk, and aggressive calf work could dislodge a clot
Pregnancy is a hypercoagulable state with elevated DVT risk; vigorous deep calf massage could dislodge a thrombus and cause a pulmonary embolism.