CVA EXAM REVIEW UNIT 4 2026 STUDY GUIDE
COMPLETE CORE CONCEPTS AND PRACTICE
QUESTIONS
◉ What 2 positive attachment behaviors do you want to observe in
parents postpartum? Answer: En face position and engrossment
◉ What is en face position? Answer: Direct eye contact between the
infant and the parent
◉ What is engrossment? Answer: Intense absorption,
preoccupation, and interest in the newborn
◉ True or False? All mothers should fall instantly in love with their
newborn. Answer: False! Not all mothers fall instantly in love, and
they often feel intensely guilty about it.
◉ As the nurse, what can you do to help build parental confidence?
Answer: Give them a sense of accomplishment when learning new
skills
- Guide them through infant care using teach-back method
- Assist with breastfeeding
,- Assess for risk factors such as no support system, not having a car
seat, living in a shelter, etc.
- Provide holistic care that is free from prejudice and discrimination
- Monitor for signs of dysfunctional bonding
◉ What are some signs of good parent-child adaptation? Answer: -
Speaks of infant as desirable and attractive
- Not upset by vomiting, drooling, etc.
- Holds the baby warmly
- Makes eye contact with the infant
- Plays with and soothes the infant
- Talks or sings to the infant
- Expresses confidence that the infant is well
- Finds physical or psychological attributes to admire about the
infant
- Able to discriminate between the baby's signs of hunger or need
for sleep
◉ What is the "golden hour"? Answer: An uninterrupted hour of
skin-to-skin between infant and mom immediately after birth
◉ True or False? Skin-to-skin is the gold standard practice. Answer:
True!
,◉ Why is skin-to-skin (the golden hour) beneficial? Answer: -
Regulates temperature, HR, RR, and blood sugar
- Promotes bonding
- Baby is calmer and more alert
- Baby shows feeding cues sooner
- Prompts mom's postpartum hormones (oxytocin and milk
production)
◉ True or False? Nurses should interrupt skin-to-skin time for an
assessment. Answer: False! Unless it is extraordinarily necessary,
nurses should never interrupt skin-to-skin time.
◉ What is the purpose of couplet care (mother-baby or rooming in)?
Answer: Allows the mom and baby to bond and adjust
◉ What is a breast crawl? Answer: When the baby is placed skin-to-
skin on the mother's chest in the first few minutes after birth, they
will start to maneuver toward mom's nipple
◉ What is the purpose of oxytocin postpartum? Answer: Love
hormone for involution which occurs with skin-to-skin contact,
breastfeeding, eye contact, scent of baby, etc.
, ◉ What are some negative maternal concerns and feelings to be
aware of? Answer: - Feeling overlooked and forgotten
- Disillusionment
- "Baby blues"
◉ As the nurse, what should you say to a mother who may be
experiencing maternal concerns and negative feelings (i.e.
disillusionment, baby blues)? Answer: Validate their feelings and
reassure the parent that this feeling is normal and will pass
◉ What are the 3 postpartum affective disorders? Answer: 1.
Postpartum blues
2. Postpartum depression
3. Postpartum psychosis
◉ What is postpartum blues ("baby blues")? Answer: An affective
disorder which occurs 1-10 days after birth, characterized by mild
depressive symptoms (anxiety, mood swings, increased sensitivity)
and caused by hormonal changes and the stress of life changes;
mothers may been inadequate and exhausted and express emotions
through sadness and tears
◉ If a mother is going through postpartum blues, what should you
do as the nurse? Answer: Offer your support and empathy, as well as
compassion and understanding
COMPLETE CORE CONCEPTS AND PRACTICE
QUESTIONS
◉ What 2 positive attachment behaviors do you want to observe in
parents postpartum? Answer: En face position and engrossment
◉ What is en face position? Answer: Direct eye contact between the
infant and the parent
◉ What is engrossment? Answer: Intense absorption,
preoccupation, and interest in the newborn
◉ True or False? All mothers should fall instantly in love with their
newborn. Answer: False! Not all mothers fall instantly in love, and
they often feel intensely guilty about it.
◉ As the nurse, what can you do to help build parental confidence?
Answer: Give them a sense of accomplishment when learning new
skills
- Guide them through infant care using teach-back method
- Assist with breastfeeding
,- Assess for risk factors such as no support system, not having a car
seat, living in a shelter, etc.
- Provide holistic care that is free from prejudice and discrimination
- Monitor for signs of dysfunctional bonding
◉ What are some signs of good parent-child adaptation? Answer: -
Speaks of infant as desirable and attractive
- Not upset by vomiting, drooling, etc.
- Holds the baby warmly
- Makes eye contact with the infant
- Plays with and soothes the infant
- Talks or sings to the infant
- Expresses confidence that the infant is well
- Finds physical or psychological attributes to admire about the
infant
- Able to discriminate between the baby's signs of hunger or need
for sleep
◉ What is the "golden hour"? Answer: An uninterrupted hour of
skin-to-skin between infant and mom immediately after birth
◉ True or False? Skin-to-skin is the gold standard practice. Answer:
True!
,◉ Why is skin-to-skin (the golden hour) beneficial? Answer: -
Regulates temperature, HR, RR, and blood sugar
- Promotes bonding
- Baby is calmer and more alert
- Baby shows feeding cues sooner
- Prompts mom's postpartum hormones (oxytocin and milk
production)
◉ True or False? Nurses should interrupt skin-to-skin time for an
assessment. Answer: False! Unless it is extraordinarily necessary,
nurses should never interrupt skin-to-skin time.
◉ What is the purpose of couplet care (mother-baby or rooming in)?
Answer: Allows the mom and baby to bond and adjust
◉ What is a breast crawl? Answer: When the baby is placed skin-to-
skin on the mother's chest in the first few minutes after birth, they
will start to maneuver toward mom's nipple
◉ What is the purpose of oxytocin postpartum? Answer: Love
hormone for involution which occurs with skin-to-skin contact,
breastfeeding, eye contact, scent of baby, etc.
, ◉ What are some negative maternal concerns and feelings to be
aware of? Answer: - Feeling overlooked and forgotten
- Disillusionment
- "Baby blues"
◉ As the nurse, what should you say to a mother who may be
experiencing maternal concerns and negative feelings (i.e.
disillusionment, baby blues)? Answer: Validate their feelings and
reassure the parent that this feeling is normal and will pass
◉ What are the 3 postpartum affective disorders? Answer: 1.
Postpartum blues
2. Postpartum depression
3. Postpartum psychosis
◉ What is postpartum blues ("baby blues")? Answer: An affective
disorder which occurs 1-10 days after birth, characterized by mild
depressive symptoms (anxiety, mood swings, increased sensitivity)
and caused by hormonal changes and the stress of life changes;
mothers may been inadequate and exhausted and express emotions
through sadness and tears
◉ If a mother is going through postpartum blues, what should you
do as the nurse? Answer: Offer your support and empathy, as well as
compassion and understanding
