What should the nurse instruct a client to do when she begins to experience dizziness and tingling of her hands during labor?

When a client in labor experiences dizziness and tingling in her hands, it is often a sign of hyperventilation, which can occur due to rapid or shallow breathing in response to pain or anxiety. Breathing into cupped hands helps to regulate the amount of carbon dioxide in the body by redistributing the CO2 that might be lost during hyperventilation. This technique can help restore proper balance in the blood gases and alleviate symptoms like dizziness and tingling, effectively allowing the client to regain composure.

While taking deep breaths and relaxing can help in general, it may not specifically address the issue of hyperventilation as effectively as the cupped hands method. Drinking water is important for hydration but will not directly rectify the symptoms related to breathing irregularities. Changing positions frequently can be beneficial for labor comfort but is not a targeted response to the immediate issue of dizziness and tingling. Therefore, guiding the client to breathe into her cupped hands directly addresses the physiological response causing her symptoms.