LABOR AND DELIVERY EXAM 2026
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE SOLVED
QUESTION SET
◉ Mechanism of Labor
Five P's. Answer: Five P's =
Passenger- fetus and placenta
Passageway= birth canal
Powers= Primary and Secondary
Position= 4 quadrants- stations
Psychologic = response
◉ Passenger. Answer: Size of head= fontal, molding
Presentation = cephalic, breech, shoulder
Fetal lie= length of spine
Fetal Attitude= are arms crossed or flexed
Fetal Position = three part abbreviation
1st letter- Left or Right of pelvis
2nd letter- presenting part- Occiput, Sacrum, Mentum (chin), Sc -
Scapula
3rd letter- presenting part location- A- anterior, P- Posterior, T-
transverse
,◉ Passageway. Answer: Composed of mother's rigid bony pelvis, soft
tissues of the cervix
Four basic types=
Gynecoid- round shaped- most common
Android- heart shaped- like male pelvis
Anthropoid- oval shaped- anthropoid apes
Platypelloid - flat shaped- pelvis
◉ Powers. Answer: Involuntary and Voluntary
Primary Power- involuntary contractions
frequency, duration, intensity - responsible for EFFACEMENT
(shortening and thinning of cervix)
Secondary Power- When the Presenting part reaches the Pelvic floor-
Involuntary pushing, Explosive
◉ Position. Answer: Fetal position
- 5 to +5 stations
0 being meets at the Ischial Spine
◉ Physiological. Answer: Culture, Anxiety, Pain tolerance, Previous
Birth experiences, Gate Control theory of Pain
, ◉ Process of Labor. Answer: Lightening= dropping uterus sinks
downward
Braxton Hicks= practice contractions
Bloody show= due to extreme congestion in vaginal walls
Cervix ripens= dilation begins
weight loss= water loss due to shifting electrolytes and changes in
Estrogen and Progesterone
Burst of energy= nesting
Gastrointestinal disturbances = not as common
◉ Stages of Labor
First Stage - Latent- Active- Transition. Answer: First stage=
Onset of regular Uterine contractions to full effacement and dilation of
cervix - longest of the stages and has variability
A. Latent 0-3 cm dilated, mild to moderate contractions and the
beginning of effacement (thinning)
B. Active 4-7 cm dilated, moderate stronger contractions that are 3-4
minutes apart and last 40-50 seconds
C. Transition 8-10 dilated (+3) , severe contractions that are 2-3 minutes
apart and last 60-80 seconds, shaking, back pain, bladder pressure,
tremors
◉ Stages of Labor
Second Stage- Latent - Active. Answer: Second Stage=
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE SOLVED
QUESTION SET
◉ Mechanism of Labor
Five P's. Answer: Five P's =
Passenger- fetus and placenta
Passageway= birth canal
Powers= Primary and Secondary
Position= 4 quadrants- stations
Psychologic = response
◉ Passenger. Answer: Size of head= fontal, molding
Presentation = cephalic, breech, shoulder
Fetal lie= length of spine
Fetal Attitude= are arms crossed or flexed
Fetal Position = three part abbreviation
1st letter- Left or Right of pelvis
2nd letter- presenting part- Occiput, Sacrum, Mentum (chin), Sc -
Scapula
3rd letter- presenting part location- A- anterior, P- Posterior, T-
transverse
,◉ Passageway. Answer: Composed of mother's rigid bony pelvis, soft
tissues of the cervix
Four basic types=
Gynecoid- round shaped- most common
Android- heart shaped- like male pelvis
Anthropoid- oval shaped- anthropoid apes
Platypelloid - flat shaped- pelvis
◉ Powers. Answer: Involuntary and Voluntary
Primary Power- involuntary contractions
frequency, duration, intensity - responsible for EFFACEMENT
(shortening and thinning of cervix)
Secondary Power- When the Presenting part reaches the Pelvic floor-
Involuntary pushing, Explosive
◉ Position. Answer: Fetal position
- 5 to +5 stations
0 being meets at the Ischial Spine
◉ Physiological. Answer: Culture, Anxiety, Pain tolerance, Previous
Birth experiences, Gate Control theory of Pain
, ◉ Process of Labor. Answer: Lightening= dropping uterus sinks
downward
Braxton Hicks= practice contractions
Bloody show= due to extreme congestion in vaginal walls
Cervix ripens= dilation begins
weight loss= water loss due to shifting electrolytes and changes in
Estrogen and Progesterone
Burst of energy= nesting
Gastrointestinal disturbances = not as common
◉ Stages of Labor
First Stage - Latent- Active- Transition. Answer: First stage=
Onset of regular Uterine contractions to full effacement and dilation of
cervix - longest of the stages and has variability
A. Latent 0-3 cm dilated, mild to moderate contractions and the
beginning of effacement (thinning)
B. Active 4-7 cm dilated, moderate stronger contractions that are 3-4
minutes apart and last 40-50 seconds
C. Transition 8-10 dilated (+3) , severe contractions that are 2-3 minutes
apart and last 60-80 seconds, shaking, back pain, bladder pressure,
tremors
◉ Stages of Labor
Second Stage- Latent - Active. Answer: Second Stage=
