Which of the following is a sign of shock in obstetric patients?

Worsening tachycardia is a significant sign of shock in obstetric patients because it reflects the body’s response to a decrease in blood volume or blood pressure. When a patient is in shock, the heart compensates by increasing its rate to maintain adequate circulation and oxygenation to vital organs. In obstetric patients, this can occur due to several factors, such as hemorrhage or other complications during pregnancy and childbirth that lead to a reduction in effective circulatory volume.

The other options do not indicate shock effectively. Prolonged fever may suggest an infection rather than shock. Cool extremities could be associated with shock, but it is not as directly indicative as worsening tachycardia; therefore, it might not always be a reliable sign when evaluating an obstetric patient. Increased appetite is more aligned with normal physiological states rather than any signs of shock, so it does not relate to the condition being assessed.