Maternal health care Chapter 26: Labor and Delivery
1. 1. A woman who is 38 weeks pregnant tells the nurse that the baby has dropped and she is having urinary
frequency again. What do these symptoms describe?
a. Lightening
b. Braxton-Hicks contractions
c. Initiation of labor
d. Engagement: ANS: A
The symptoms of lightening are a return of urinary frequency, and the patient is able to breathe more normally.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: Page 798 OBJ: 3 TOP: Lightening KEY:
Nursing Process Step: Assessment
2. 2. How do Braxton-Hicks contractions, which may begin in the first trimester and become increasingly stronger
during the pregnancy, differ from labor contractions?
a. Last several minutes
b. Are always regular
c. Do not dilate the cervix
d. Are only mild: ANS: C
Braxton-Hicks contractions do not dilate the cervix. Braxton-Hicks contractions re- main irregular, can range from mild t
moderate in severity, and increase in duration as the pregnancy progresses.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: Page 799
OBJ: 4 TOP: Braxton-Hicks contractions KEY: Nursing Process Step: N/A
3. 3. When trying to differentiate false labor from true labor, the nurse realizes which of the following statements
regarding true labor is correct?
a. Discomfort of the contraction is in the fundus.
b. Contractions do not follow a pattern.
c. Contractions get stronger with ambulation.
d. Contractions may stop with ambulation.: ANS: C
Contractions get stronger with ambulation in true labor. True labor is also marked by the onset of regular, rhythmic
contractions.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: Page 800, Table 26-1 OBJ: 4 TOP: True labor KEY:
Nursing Process Step: Implementation
4. 4. Why is the size and shape of the true pelvis more important than that of the false pelvis?
a. The fetal head must be able to pass through the true pelvis.
, Maternal health care Chapter 26: Labor and Delivery
b. The true pelvis are the mother's measurements.
c. The size of the false pelvis can change.
d. The size of the true pelvis needs to be larger.: ANS: A
The size and shape of the true pelvis is more important than the false pelvis because the fetal head must be able to pass
through for vaginal delivery to occur.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: Page 800
OBJ: 5 TOP: True pelvis KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
5. 5. What method is used to visualize soft tissue and to determine adequacy of the pelvis with no detrimental
effects to the fetus?
a. Pelvimetry
b. Palpation
c. Ultrasonography
d. X-ray: ANS: C
In more than 20 years of use, ultrasonography has had no detrimental effects on the fetus. Pelvimetry and x-ray uses radiation
to visualize bony prominences. Pelvimetry is not used in the pregnant patient due to detrimental effects to the fetus.
Palpation does not allow for visualization of soft tissue.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: Page 801
OBJ: 5 TOP: Ultrasound KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
6. 6. What area of the uterus provides the force during a contraction?
a. Lower portion
b. Middle portion
c. Upper portion
d. Cervical portion: ANS: C
The upper portion of the uterus provides the force during contractions.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: Page 805
OBJ: 7 TOP: Passageway KEY: Nursing Process Step: Planning
7. 7. What is the largest diameter of the fetal skull?
a. Temporal
b. Biparietal
c. Lateral
d. Frontal-occipital: ANS: B
The largest transverse diameter of the fetal skull is the biparietal measurement. If this is too large, the skull may not be able t
enter the mother's pelvis.
1. 1. A woman who is 38 weeks pregnant tells the nurse that the baby has dropped and she is having urinary
frequency again. What do these symptoms describe?
a. Lightening
b. Braxton-Hicks contractions
c. Initiation of labor
d. Engagement: ANS: A
The symptoms of lightening are a return of urinary frequency, and the patient is able to breathe more normally.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: Page 798 OBJ: 3 TOP: Lightening KEY:
Nursing Process Step: Assessment
2. 2. How do Braxton-Hicks contractions, which may begin in the first trimester and become increasingly stronger
during the pregnancy, differ from labor contractions?
a. Last several minutes
b. Are always regular
c. Do not dilate the cervix
d. Are only mild: ANS: C
Braxton-Hicks contractions do not dilate the cervix. Braxton-Hicks contractions re- main irregular, can range from mild t
moderate in severity, and increase in duration as the pregnancy progresses.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: Page 799
OBJ: 4 TOP: Braxton-Hicks contractions KEY: Nursing Process Step: N/A
3. 3. When trying to differentiate false labor from true labor, the nurse realizes which of the following statements
regarding true labor is correct?
a. Discomfort of the contraction is in the fundus.
b. Contractions do not follow a pattern.
c. Contractions get stronger with ambulation.
d. Contractions may stop with ambulation.: ANS: C
Contractions get stronger with ambulation in true labor. True labor is also marked by the onset of regular, rhythmic
contractions.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: Page 800, Table 26-1 OBJ: 4 TOP: True labor KEY:
Nursing Process Step: Implementation
4. 4. Why is the size and shape of the true pelvis more important than that of the false pelvis?
a. The fetal head must be able to pass through the true pelvis.
, Maternal health care Chapter 26: Labor and Delivery
b. The true pelvis are the mother's measurements.
c. The size of the false pelvis can change.
d. The size of the true pelvis needs to be larger.: ANS: A
The size and shape of the true pelvis is more important than the false pelvis because the fetal head must be able to pass
through for vaginal delivery to occur.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: Page 800
OBJ: 5 TOP: True pelvis KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
5. 5. What method is used to visualize soft tissue and to determine adequacy of the pelvis with no detrimental
effects to the fetus?
a. Pelvimetry
b. Palpation
c. Ultrasonography
d. X-ray: ANS: C
In more than 20 years of use, ultrasonography has had no detrimental effects on the fetus. Pelvimetry and x-ray uses radiation
to visualize bony prominences. Pelvimetry is not used in the pregnant patient due to detrimental effects to the fetus.
Palpation does not allow for visualization of soft tissue.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: Page 801
OBJ: 5 TOP: Ultrasound KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
6. 6. What area of the uterus provides the force during a contraction?
a. Lower portion
b. Middle portion
c. Upper portion
d. Cervical portion: ANS: C
The upper portion of the uterus provides the force during contractions.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: Page 805
OBJ: 7 TOP: Passageway KEY: Nursing Process Step: Planning
7. 7. What is the largest diameter of the fetal skull?
a. Temporal
b. Biparietal
c. Lateral
d. Frontal-occipital: ANS: B
The largest transverse diameter of the fetal skull is the biparietal measurement. If this is too large, the skull may not be able t
enter the mother's pelvis.
