When assessing a pregnant woman's abdomen at 36 weeks, what should you expect to find?

At 36 weeks of pregnancy, the normal assessment of a pregnant woman's abdomen should reveal a firm and nontender feel. As the pregnancy progresses, the uterus expands to accommodate the growing fetus, becoming more pronounced and firmer while remaining nontender, indicating a healthy state.

In this context, firmness is a good indication of normal muscle tone and placental integrity, while tenderness would usually suggest an underlying issue that may need to be investigated. The absence of tenderness indicates that there are no immediate concerns, such as potential abdominal complications or infections.

The other options suggest conditions that are not typical for a healthy pregnancy at this stage. For example, distention and guarding could imply abdominal distress or complications requiring urgent attention, while rigidity is often associated with severe pain or pathological issues.