A primigravida at 40 weeks gestation is receiving oxytocin to augment labor. What adverse effect should the nurse monitor for?

Monitoring for hyperstimulation is crucial when a primigravida is receiving oxytocin to augment labor. Oxytocin, a hormone used to initiate or enhance uterine contractions, can lead to overly frequent or intense contractions if not carefully administered. This condition, known as hyperstimulation, can result in inadequate fetal oxygenation and distress, potentially harming both the mother and the fetus.

Hyperstimulation may manifest as contractions that occur more than every two minutes or last longer than 90 seconds, and it necessitates immediate intervention to ensure the safety of both the mother and child. Recognizing the signs of hyperstimulation, such as non-reassuring fetal heart patterns, is key to facilitating timely adjustments in treatment, which can improve outcomes during labor.

Other adverse effects, while they may occur, are either less directly related to oxytocin administration or do not present a pressing concern in this scenario. For instance, dehydration is not a common direct effect of oxytocin; galactorrhea is usually associated with conditions other than labor induction, and fetal tachycardia could be a result of various factors, not solely the administration of oxytocin. Thus, the focus on hyperstimulation allows for proactive management of labor and