Maternity & obstetric nursing worksheet with answers

What are pelvic floor (Kegel) exercises meant to do?

1. AIncrease milk supply
2. BLower blood pressure
3. CTurn a breech baby into a head-down position in the last weeks of pregnancy
4. DStrengthen the pelvic floor muscles and help prevent urinary incontinence

Why is anti-D immunoglobulin given to an Rh-negative pregnant woman?

1. ATo treat anaemia in the mother
2. BTo stop her immune system forming antibodies against Rh-positive fetal blood
3. CTo protect the baby against infections such as rubella and group B streptococcus
4. DTo make the baby Rh-negative

By what age have nearly all healthy term babies passed their first meconium?

1. AAfter the umbilical cord falls off
2. BOnly after the first formula feed
3. CBy 48 hours
4. DWithin 5 to 7 days

A woman with pre-eclampsia is on magnesium sulfate. Why does the nurse monitor her urine output closely?

1. AMagnesium is cleared by the kidneys, so oliguria raises the risk of toxicity
2. BLow urine output shows that the magnesium is working
3. CUrine output tells the nurse exactly when to stop the infusion after the birth
4. DMagnesium causes a large diuresis that leads to dehydration

A newborn has flat, blue-grey patches over the lower back and buttocks. How should the nurse interpret this?

1. AHarmless dermal melanocytosis, to be documented
2. BA port-wine stain that will need laser treatment
3. CA sign of a serious blood clotting disorder
4. DBruising that suggests birth trauma or abuse

A woman 1 day after birth has a blood pressure of 150/96 mmHg and a headache. She had normal blood pressures in pregnancy. What should the nurse do?

1. AEncourage her to walk to lower her blood pressure
2. BGive paracetamol (acetaminophen) and ignore the blood pressure
3. CReport it and assess for postpartum pre-eclampsia
4. DReassure her that this is normal after birth

A woman at 8 weeks takes valproate for epilepsy. She asks whether she should stop it. Which response is best?

1. AContinue as usual because epilepsy drugs are all safe in pregnancy
2. BStop the drug today because it causes birth defects
3. CDo not stop it suddenly; arrange urgent specialist review
4. DHalve the dose herself to reduce the risk to the baby

Just after the membranes rupture, there is painless vaginal bleeding and the fetal heart rate drops sharply. The mother's vital signs are normal. Which condition is most likely?

1. ABloody show
2. BUterine rupture
3. CPlacental abruption
4. DRuptured vasa praevia