A pregnant patient at 29 weeks with preterm labor is being treated with tocolytics. Which nurse response is most accurate regarding discharge planning?

• A. when we can stabilize your preterm labor and arrange home health visits
• B. after you deliver
• C. only after full-term gestation
• D. after you have stopped tocolytics

Answer: (A)

Discharge planning in a patient with preterm labor who is on tocolytics focuses on keeping the pregnancy safe while ensuring ongoing monitoring after leaving the hospital. The priority is to stabilize the contractions and put a solid plan in place for care at home. If contractions are controlled and there is a clear plan for support—such as home health visits to monitor the mother’s vitals, activity, hydration, fetal well-being, medication use, and any warning signs—the patient can be discharged before delivery. This approach supports prolonging the pregnancy when possible and reduces unnecessary hospital stays.

Discharging after delivery wouldn’t apply here since the patient is still pregnant at 29 weeks. Waiting until full-term isn’t required and isn’t practical in this situation. And discharge isn’t contingent on stopping the tocolytic therapy; what matters is that there is a safe, supervised plan for continuing care at home and knowing when to return for care if symptoms worsen.