Which client finding should the nurse document as a positive sign of pregnancy?

• A. Last menstrual cycle occurred 2 months ago.
• B. A urine sample with a positive pregnancy test.
• C. Presence of Braxton Hicks contractions.
• D. Fetal heart tones (FHT) heard with a doppler.

Answer: (D)

Positive signs are those that provide direct evidence of a fetus’s presence and viability. Hearing fetal heart tones with a Doppler demonstrates fetal cardiac activity, proving there is a living fetus in the uterus, which confirms pregnancy in a definitive way. The other options are not as conclusive: a urine pregnancy test shows a hormonal change that supports pregnancy but isn’t definitive proof by itself; a missed or recent last menstrual period is history and can suggest pregnancy but doesn’t confirm fetal presence; Braxton Hicks contractions are common in pregnancy but do not prove fetal presence. Therefore, identifying fetal heart tones is the strongest, most definite sign of pregnancy.