Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Goodell's sign is an important clinical indicator of a probable pregnancy during the first trimester. This sign is characterized by the softening of the cervix, which occurs due to increased vascularity and hormonal changes associated with pregnancy. During a physical examination, the presence of Goodell's sign suggests that the body is undergoing physiological changes to support a developing pregnancy.

In contrast, other options do not specifically indicate a probable pregnancy in the first trimester. For example, a bloody show typically occurs as the body prepares for labor, rather than being a sign of early pregnancy. Leopold maneuvers are used to determine the position of the fetus during later stages of pregnancy, not in the first trimester. Striae, or stretch marks, can develop as a result of skin stretching during pregnancy but generally appear later in pregnancy as the abdomen expands. Understanding these distinctions is essential for accurately interpreting signs of pregnancy during a physical examination.