What finding should a nurse monitor in a client who experienced a missed abortion during the second trimester?

In the context of a missed abortion during the second trimester, one significant finding to monitor is a decrease in uterine size. A missed abortion occurs when the fetus has died but is retained in the uterus, often without obvious signs or symptoms. As time passes, the body may start to reabsorb the pregnancy tissue, leading to a decrease in uterine size.

Monitoring for a decrease in uterine size is crucial as it can indicate the progression of the missed abortion and the body's response. This reduction may also reflect the need for medical intervention, such as dilation and curettage (D&C), to ensure that any remaining tissue is addressed to prevent complications.

While other findings like brownish vaginal discharge and urine output can be part of monitoring, they do not provide as specific or clear an indication of the state of the pregnancy compared to changes in uterine size after a missed abortion. Spontaneous bruising is also not directly related to the assessment of a missed abortion and does not give precise information regarding the status of the pregnancy.