HESI Maternity Set #3: Fetal and Maternal Assessment
Techniques |Questions and Answers
Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP):
-obtained at _____ weeks
-increased levels indicate _____
-decreased levels indicates ______ ** Answ** -16 weeks
-neural tube defects
-Down syndrome
The _____ test is mandated by state law to be performed in some states on pregnant
women. The test is highly associated with both false positives and false negatives. **
Answ** MSAFP
Name the 5 elements of a BPP: ** Answ** 1. Fetal breathing movements
2. Gross body movements
3. Fetal tone
4. Reactivity of FHR
5. Amniotic fluid volume
When the fetus is small, what must be advised during an ultrasound? ** Answ** The
patient's bladder must be full during the exam for the uterus to be supported for imaging
T/F: Gestational age is best determined by an early sonogram rather than a later one
** Answ** True
_________ is removal of a small piece of villi during period between 8-12 weeks
gestation under ultrasound guidance ** Answ** Chorionic villi sampling (CVS)
CVS or amniocentesis?
Results return faster (within 1 week) ** Answ** CVS
CVS or amniocentesis?
It is used to determine genetic diagnosis early in the first trimester ** Answ** CVS
CVS or amniocentesis?
It is used to determine fetal genetic diagnosis, fetal lung maturity, fetal well being **
Answ** Amniocentesis
When amniocentesis is done early in pregnancy, the bladder must be _____(empty/full).
When done late in pregnancy, the bladder must be _____. ** Answ** full, empty
, Name the two main methods of fetal monitoring: ** Answ** external electronic fetal
monitoring and internal fetal monitoring
When using external electronic fetal monitoring, a ____ is used to measure uterine
contractions and a ____ measures the HR ** Answ** 1. toco
2. ultrasound transducer
On a fetal monitoring paper, the _____ shows up on the top strip and the _____ shows
up on the bottom strip ** Answ** Top: heart rate
Bottom: contractions
When using internal fetal monitoring, a _______ is used to measure contractions and a
_____ measures the heart rate. ** Answ** 1. intrauterine pressure catheter (IUPC)
2. internal fetal scalp electrode (FSE)
On a fetal monitoring paper, look for these 3 normal findings: ** Answ** 1. Baseline
heart rate
2. Moderate variability
3. Normal accelerations
What are 4 things to know about a contraction: ** Answ** 1. Frequency
2. Duration
3. Intensity
4. Beginning, peak and end of each contraction
Name 2 ways to accurate determine the intensity of contractions? ** Answ** 1.
palpate the fundus
2. use internal monitoring (the IUPC will monitor the pressure once the amniotic
membranes have ruptured)
In order to establish the baseline fetal heart rate you must have _____ minutes of the
strip. ** Answ** 10 minutes
____________ are irregular fluctuations in the baseline FHR and is due to the function
of the autonomic nervous system ** Answ** variability
Name the 4 types of variabilities: ** Answ** 1. Absent: 0 beats of change
2. Minimal: <=5 beats of change
3. Moderate: 6-25 beats of change ****(NORMAL)
4. Marked: >25 beats of change
Which type of variability is considered normal? ** Answ** Moderate variability
__________ is a FHR < 110 bpm lasting for > 10 minutes ** Answ** Bradycardia
__________ is a FHR > 160 lasting for > 10 minutes ** Answ** Tachycardia
Techniques |Questions and Answers
Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP):
-obtained at _____ weeks
-increased levels indicate _____
-decreased levels indicates ______ ** Answ** -16 weeks
-neural tube defects
-Down syndrome
The _____ test is mandated by state law to be performed in some states on pregnant
women. The test is highly associated with both false positives and false negatives. **
Answ** MSAFP
Name the 5 elements of a BPP: ** Answ** 1. Fetal breathing movements
2. Gross body movements
3. Fetal tone
4. Reactivity of FHR
5. Amniotic fluid volume
When the fetus is small, what must be advised during an ultrasound? ** Answ** The
patient's bladder must be full during the exam for the uterus to be supported for imaging
T/F: Gestational age is best determined by an early sonogram rather than a later one
** Answ** True
_________ is removal of a small piece of villi during period between 8-12 weeks
gestation under ultrasound guidance ** Answ** Chorionic villi sampling (CVS)
CVS or amniocentesis?
Results return faster (within 1 week) ** Answ** CVS
CVS or amniocentesis?
It is used to determine genetic diagnosis early in the first trimester ** Answ** CVS
CVS or amniocentesis?
It is used to determine fetal genetic diagnosis, fetal lung maturity, fetal well being **
Answ** Amniocentesis
When amniocentesis is done early in pregnancy, the bladder must be _____(empty/full).
When done late in pregnancy, the bladder must be _____. ** Answ** full, empty
, Name the two main methods of fetal monitoring: ** Answ** external electronic fetal
monitoring and internal fetal monitoring
When using external electronic fetal monitoring, a ____ is used to measure uterine
contractions and a ____ measures the HR ** Answ** 1. toco
2. ultrasound transducer
On a fetal monitoring paper, the _____ shows up on the top strip and the _____ shows
up on the bottom strip ** Answ** Top: heart rate
Bottom: contractions
When using internal fetal monitoring, a _______ is used to measure contractions and a
_____ measures the heart rate. ** Answ** 1. intrauterine pressure catheter (IUPC)
2. internal fetal scalp electrode (FSE)
On a fetal monitoring paper, look for these 3 normal findings: ** Answ** 1. Baseline
heart rate
2. Moderate variability
3. Normal accelerations
What are 4 things to know about a contraction: ** Answ** 1. Frequency
2. Duration
3. Intensity
4. Beginning, peak and end of each contraction
Name 2 ways to accurate determine the intensity of contractions? ** Answ** 1.
palpate the fundus
2. use internal monitoring (the IUPC will monitor the pressure once the amniotic
membranes have ruptured)
In order to establish the baseline fetal heart rate you must have _____ minutes of the
strip. ** Answ** 10 minutes
____________ are irregular fluctuations in the baseline FHR and is due to the function
of the autonomic nervous system ** Answ** variability
Name the 4 types of variabilities: ** Answ** 1. Absent: 0 beats of change
2. Minimal: <=5 beats of change
3. Moderate: 6-25 beats of change ****(NORMAL)
4. Marked: >25 beats of change
Which type of variability is considered normal? ** Answ** Moderate variability
__________ is a FHR < 110 bpm lasting for > 10 minutes ** Answ** Bradycardia
__________ is a FHR > 160 lasting for > 10 minutes ** Answ** Tachycardia
