HESI MATERNITY PEDIATRICS EXAMINATION
TEST 2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
GRADED A+
◉ What is gravidity? Answer: the number of pregnancies including
current pregnancy.
includes miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies, stillbirths.
◉ What is parity? Answer: number of births in which the fetus is carried
past 20 weeks gestation(not number of fetuses [e.g., twins]
◉ GTPAL Answer: Gravida, Term, Preterm, Abortions, Living
◉ What are presumptive signs of pregnancy? Answer: Subjective signs
perceived by the woman
- Signs: amenorrhea, breast changes & tenderness, nausea
- Symptoms: N/V, urinary freq, weight gain, fatigue, quickening (fetal
movement), discoloration of vaginal mucosa
,◉ Probable signs of pregnancy Answer: Uterine enlargement, Goodell's
sign, Chadwick's sign, Hegar's sign, Ballottement, + Pregnancy test,
Braxton Hicks contractions
◉ Goodell's sign Answer: softening of the cervix
◉ Chadwick's sign Answer: Bluish purple discoloration of the cervix,
vagina, and labia during pregnancy as a result of increased vascular
congestion.
◉ Hegar's sign Answer: softening of the lower uterine segment
◉ Ballottement Answer: The rebounding of the fetus against the
examiner's fingers on palpation
◉ Positive signs of pregnancy Answer: audible fetal heartbeat, fetal
movement felt by examiner, ultrasound visualization of fetus
◉ How to measure Fundal Height Answer: Symphysis pubis to top of
uterine fundus. # of cm is usually equivalent to gestation age, give or
take 1-2 cm
--At 36 weeks fetus moves down into the pelvis, measurement not as
reliable
,◉ Smoking tobacco during pregnancy can lead to Answer: low birth
weight, a higher incidence of birth defects, and still births
◉ Cholasma Answer: Pigmented area of the face (mask of pregnancy)
◉ "Linea Nigra" of pregnancy Answer: Dark line of hyperpigmentation
down the midline of the abdomen
◉ stiae gravidarum Answer: stretch marks
◉ What are some interventions that the nurse can teach the patient for
nausea and vomiting in pregnancy(occurs during 1st trimester)? Answer:
Eat crackers before rising in the morning, eat small, frequent and low fat
meals, drink liquids between meals rather than at meals, avoid fried and
spicy foods. Ask HCP if vit. B6 would be helpful.
◉ What are some interventions for syncope during pregnancy? Answer:
sit with feet elevated and change positions slowly. Instruct the pregnant
client to avoid lying in the supine position.
◉ What are some interventions for urinary frequency occurring during
pregnancy? Answer: Limit fluid intake during the evening, void at
regular intervals, kegal exercises, avoid caffeine
, ◉ What are some interventions of ptyalism during pregnancy? Answer:
Small, frequent meals, gum chewing and oral lozenges
◉ Dilution of RBC mass causing a decline in maternal hemoglobin and
hematocrit Answer: physiologic anemia or pseudoanemia
◉ Iron deficiency anemia occurs when the Hgb and Hct are? Answer:
Hgb less than 11 g/dL or Hct less than 33% in 1st or 3rd trimester &
Hgb less than 10.5 g/dL or Hct less than 32% in 2nd trimester
◉ What is prescribed in pregnancy to prevent iron deficiency anemia?
Answer: Ferrous Sulfate(iron supplement)
◉ What happens to the heart rate during pregnancy? Answer: heart rate
increases by 15-20 BPM.
◉ Interventions for heartburn during pregnancy? Answer: Eat small
meals Q2-3H and avoid fatty, acidic, or spicy foods. Eliminate or curtail
smoking and drinking coffee and carbonated beverages. Try chewing
gum. Do not eat or drink before bedtime and sleep with extra pillow.
Walk or sit upright 1-2 hours after meals. May take liquid antacids.
Avoid bending over.
◉ What is round ligament pain? Answer: Sharp pain in the side or
inguinal area, usually on the right side.
TEST 2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
GRADED A+
◉ What is gravidity? Answer: the number of pregnancies including
current pregnancy.
includes miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies, stillbirths.
◉ What is parity? Answer: number of births in which the fetus is carried
past 20 weeks gestation(not number of fetuses [e.g., twins]
◉ GTPAL Answer: Gravida, Term, Preterm, Abortions, Living
◉ What are presumptive signs of pregnancy? Answer: Subjective signs
perceived by the woman
- Signs: amenorrhea, breast changes & tenderness, nausea
- Symptoms: N/V, urinary freq, weight gain, fatigue, quickening (fetal
movement), discoloration of vaginal mucosa
,◉ Probable signs of pregnancy Answer: Uterine enlargement, Goodell's
sign, Chadwick's sign, Hegar's sign, Ballottement, + Pregnancy test,
Braxton Hicks contractions
◉ Goodell's sign Answer: softening of the cervix
◉ Chadwick's sign Answer: Bluish purple discoloration of the cervix,
vagina, and labia during pregnancy as a result of increased vascular
congestion.
◉ Hegar's sign Answer: softening of the lower uterine segment
◉ Ballottement Answer: The rebounding of the fetus against the
examiner's fingers on palpation
◉ Positive signs of pregnancy Answer: audible fetal heartbeat, fetal
movement felt by examiner, ultrasound visualization of fetus
◉ How to measure Fundal Height Answer: Symphysis pubis to top of
uterine fundus. # of cm is usually equivalent to gestation age, give or
take 1-2 cm
--At 36 weeks fetus moves down into the pelvis, measurement not as
reliable
,◉ Smoking tobacco during pregnancy can lead to Answer: low birth
weight, a higher incidence of birth defects, and still births
◉ Cholasma Answer: Pigmented area of the face (mask of pregnancy)
◉ "Linea Nigra" of pregnancy Answer: Dark line of hyperpigmentation
down the midline of the abdomen
◉ stiae gravidarum Answer: stretch marks
◉ What are some interventions that the nurse can teach the patient for
nausea and vomiting in pregnancy(occurs during 1st trimester)? Answer:
Eat crackers before rising in the morning, eat small, frequent and low fat
meals, drink liquids between meals rather than at meals, avoid fried and
spicy foods. Ask HCP if vit. B6 would be helpful.
◉ What are some interventions for syncope during pregnancy? Answer:
sit with feet elevated and change positions slowly. Instruct the pregnant
client to avoid lying in the supine position.
◉ What are some interventions for urinary frequency occurring during
pregnancy? Answer: Limit fluid intake during the evening, void at
regular intervals, kegal exercises, avoid caffeine
, ◉ What are some interventions of ptyalism during pregnancy? Answer:
Small, frequent meals, gum chewing and oral lozenges
◉ Dilution of RBC mass causing a decline in maternal hemoglobin and
hematocrit Answer: physiologic anemia or pseudoanemia
◉ Iron deficiency anemia occurs when the Hgb and Hct are? Answer:
Hgb less than 11 g/dL or Hct less than 33% in 1st or 3rd trimester &
Hgb less than 10.5 g/dL or Hct less than 32% in 2nd trimester
◉ What is prescribed in pregnancy to prevent iron deficiency anemia?
Answer: Ferrous Sulfate(iron supplement)
◉ What happens to the heart rate during pregnancy? Answer: heart rate
increases by 15-20 BPM.
◉ Interventions for heartburn during pregnancy? Answer: Eat small
meals Q2-3H and avoid fatty, acidic, or spicy foods. Eliminate or curtail
smoking and drinking coffee and carbonated beverages. Try chewing
gum. Do not eat or drink before bedtime and sleep with extra pillow.
Walk or sit upright 1-2 hours after meals. May take liquid antacids.
Avoid bending over.
◉ What is round ligament pain? Answer: Sharp pain in the side or
inguinal area, usually on the right side.
