UWORLD MATERNAL AND NEWBORN UPDATED
FINAL PAPER 2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
◉ Why is Rh sensitization dangerous? Answer: Puts current and
future pregnancies at risk for hemolytic anemia
◉ What test screens for Rh sensitization? Answer: Indirect Coombs
test
◉ When is an indirect Coombs test indicated during pregnancy?
Answer: Suspected hemorrhage such as placental abruption or
trauma
◉ When is Rh immune globulin administered during pregnancy?
Answer: At 28 weeks gestation
◉ When is Rh immune globulin given postpartum? Answer: Within
72 hours after delivery
◉ When are Group B streptococcus cultures obtained? Answer: 35
to 37 weeks gestation
,◉ Why is Group B strep screening performed? Answer: To
determine need for antibiotics during labor to prevent neonatal
infection
◉ When is rubella immunity tested? Answer: First trimester
◉ When should nonimmune clients receive the MMR vaccine?
Answer: Postpartum period
◉ What does serum alpha-fetoprotein screen for? Answer: Fetal
neural tube defects
◉ What physiologic change causes elevated WBC count in
pregnancy? Answer: Increased neutrophils
◉ How high can WBC count normally rise during pregnancy?
Answer: Up to 15,000/mm³
◉ What defines preterm labor? Answer: Cervical dilation and/or
effacement with contractions before 37 weeks gestation
◉ What symptoms require priority assessment for preterm labor?
Answer: Low back pain radiating to abdomen and abdominal
cramping
,◉ What are major risk factors for preterm labor? Answer: Prior
preterm birth, multifetal gestation, infection
◉ What laboratory finding is associated with hyperemesis
gravidarum? Answer: Moderate to high ketonuria
◉ Why do ketones appear in hyperemesis gravidarum? Answer: Fat
metabolism due to inadequate nutritional intake
◉ What causes gestational diabetes mellitus? Answer: Pregnancy-
related insulin resistance
◉ When is screening for gestational diabetes performed? Answer:
24 to 28 weeks gestation
◉ What test is used to screen for gestational diabetes? Answer: 1-
hour glucose challenge test
◉ Does the 1-hour glucose challenge test require fasting? Answer:
No
◉ Why does the 1-hour GCT not require fasting? Answer: Normal
insulin response should control glucose regardless of recent intake
, ◉ What is the recommended total pregnancy weight gain for an
underweight client (BMI <18.5)? Answer: 28 to 40 lb
◉ What is the recommended total pregnancy weight gain for a client
with normal BMI (18.5-24.9)? Answer: 25 to 35 lb
◉ What is the recommended total pregnancy weight gain for an
overweight client (BMI 25-29.9)? Answer: 15 to 25 lb
◉ What is the recommended total pregnancy weight gain for an
obese client (BMI ≥30)? Answer: 11 to 20 lb
◉ How much weight should be gained in the first trimester
regardless of BMI? Answer: 1.1 to 4.4 lb
◉ What is the expected weekly weight gain in the second and third
trimesters for a normal BMI client? Answer: About 1 lb per week
◉ What is the expected weekly weight gain for overweight clients in
later pregnancy? Answer: About 0.6 lb per week
◉ What is the expected weekly weight gain for obese clients in later
pregnancy? Answer: About 0.5 lb per week
FINAL PAPER 2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
◉ Why is Rh sensitization dangerous? Answer: Puts current and
future pregnancies at risk for hemolytic anemia
◉ What test screens for Rh sensitization? Answer: Indirect Coombs
test
◉ When is an indirect Coombs test indicated during pregnancy?
Answer: Suspected hemorrhage such as placental abruption or
trauma
◉ When is Rh immune globulin administered during pregnancy?
Answer: At 28 weeks gestation
◉ When is Rh immune globulin given postpartum? Answer: Within
72 hours after delivery
◉ When are Group B streptococcus cultures obtained? Answer: 35
to 37 weeks gestation
,◉ Why is Group B strep screening performed? Answer: To
determine need for antibiotics during labor to prevent neonatal
infection
◉ When is rubella immunity tested? Answer: First trimester
◉ When should nonimmune clients receive the MMR vaccine?
Answer: Postpartum period
◉ What does serum alpha-fetoprotein screen for? Answer: Fetal
neural tube defects
◉ What physiologic change causes elevated WBC count in
pregnancy? Answer: Increased neutrophils
◉ How high can WBC count normally rise during pregnancy?
Answer: Up to 15,000/mm³
◉ What defines preterm labor? Answer: Cervical dilation and/or
effacement with contractions before 37 weeks gestation
◉ What symptoms require priority assessment for preterm labor?
Answer: Low back pain radiating to abdomen and abdominal
cramping
,◉ What are major risk factors for preterm labor? Answer: Prior
preterm birth, multifetal gestation, infection
◉ What laboratory finding is associated with hyperemesis
gravidarum? Answer: Moderate to high ketonuria
◉ Why do ketones appear in hyperemesis gravidarum? Answer: Fat
metabolism due to inadequate nutritional intake
◉ What causes gestational diabetes mellitus? Answer: Pregnancy-
related insulin resistance
◉ When is screening for gestational diabetes performed? Answer:
24 to 28 weeks gestation
◉ What test is used to screen for gestational diabetes? Answer: 1-
hour glucose challenge test
◉ Does the 1-hour glucose challenge test require fasting? Answer:
No
◉ Why does the 1-hour GCT not require fasting? Answer: Normal
insulin response should control glucose regardless of recent intake
, ◉ What is the recommended total pregnancy weight gain for an
underweight client (BMI <18.5)? Answer: 28 to 40 lb
◉ What is the recommended total pregnancy weight gain for a client
with normal BMI (18.5-24.9)? Answer: 25 to 35 lb
◉ What is the recommended total pregnancy weight gain for an
overweight client (BMI 25-29.9)? Answer: 15 to 25 lb
◉ What is the recommended total pregnancy weight gain for an
obese client (BMI ≥30)? Answer: 11 to 20 lb
◉ How much weight should be gained in the first trimester
regardless of BMI? Answer: 1.1 to 4.4 lb
◉ What is the expected weekly weight gain in the second and third
trimesters for a normal BMI client? Answer: About 1 lb per week
◉ What is the expected weekly weight gain for overweight clients in
later pregnancy? Answer: About 0.6 lb per week
◉ What is the expected weekly weight gain for obese clients in later
pregnancy? Answer: About 0.5 lb per week
