Maternity Test Bank
Exam Study Guide – Practice
Questions with Answers.
GRADED A+. Latest 2026/2027
Update.
Chapter 13: Labor and Birth Processes
1. A new mother asks the nurse when the soft spot on her sons head will go
away. The nurses answer is based on the knowledge that the anterior fontanel
closes after birth by _____ months.
a. 2 c. 12
b. 8 d. 18 - Ans✔✔-d. 18
2. When assessing a woman in labor, the nurse is aware that the relationship of
the fetal body parts to one another is called fetal:
a. Lie. c. Attitude.
b. Presentation. d. Position. - Ans✔✔-c. Attitude.
,3. When assessing the fetus using Leopold maneuvers, the nurse feels a round,
firm, movable fetal part in the fundal portion of the uterus and a long, smooth
surface in the mothers right side close to midline. What is the likely position of
the fetus?
a. ROA c. RSA
b. LSP d. LOA - Ans✔✔-c. RSA
4. The nurse has received report regarding her patient in labor. The womans
last vaginal examination was recorded as 3 cm, 30%, and ?2-2. The nurses
interpretation of this assessment is that:
a. The cervix is effaced 3 cm, it is dilated 30%, and the presenting part is 2 cm
above the ischial spines.
b. The cervix is 3 cm dilated, it is effaced 30%, and the presenting part is 2 cm
above the ischial spines.
c. The cervix is effaced 3 cm, it is dilated 30%, and the presenting part is 2 cm
below the ischial spines.
d. The cervix is dilated 3 cm, it is effaced 30%, and the presenting part is 2 cm
below the ischial spines. - Ans✔✔-b. The cervix is 3 cm dilated, it is effaced
30%, and the presenting part is 2 cm above the ischial spines.
5. To care for a laboring woman adequately, the nurse understands that the
__________ stage of labor varies the most in length?
a. First c. Third
b. Second d. Fourth - Ans✔✔-a. First
6. The nurse would expect which maternal cardiovascular finding during labor?
a. Increased cardiac output
b. Decreased pulse rate
,c. Decreased white blood cell (WBC) count
d. Decreased blood pressure - Ans✔✔-a. Increased cardiac output
7. The factors that affect the process of labor and birth, known commonly as
the five Ps, include all except:
a. Passenger. c. Powers.
b. Passageway. d. Pressure. - Ans✔✔-d. Pressure.
8. The slight overlapping of cranial bones or shaping of the fetal head during
labor is called:
a. Lightening. c. Ferguson reflex.
b. Molding. d. Valsalva maneuver. - Ans✔✔-b. Molding.
9. Which presentation is described accurately in terms of both presenting part
and frequency of occurrence?
a. Cephalic: occiput; at least 95% c. Shoulder: scapula; 10% to 15%
b. Breech: sacrum; 10% to 15% d. Cephalic: cranial; 80% to 85% - Ans✔✔-a.
Cephalic: occiput; at least 95%
10. With regard to factors that affect how the fetus moves through the birth
canal, nurses should be aware that:
a. The fetal attitude describes the angle at which the fetus exits the uterus.
b. Of the two primary fetal lies, the horizontal lie is that in which the long axis
of the fetus is parallel to the long axis of the mother.
c. The normal attitude of the fetus is called general flexion.
d. The transverse lie is preferred for vaginal birth. - Ans✔✔-c. The normal
attitude of the fetus is called general flexion.
, 11. As relates to fetal positioning during labor, nurses should be aware that:
a. Position is a measure of the degree of descent of the presenting part of the
fetus through the birth canal.
b. Birth is imminent when the presenting part is at +4 to +5 cm below the
spine.
c. The largest transverse diameter of the presenting part is the
suboccipitobregmatic diameter.
d. Engagement is the term used to describe the beginning of labor. - Ans✔✔-b.
Birth is imminent when the presenting part is at +4 to +5 cm below the spine.
12. Which basic type of pelvis includes the correct description and percentage
of occurrence in women?
a. Gynecoid: classic female; heart shaped; 75%
b. Android: resembling the male; wider oval; 15%
c. Anthropoid: resembling the ape; narrower; 10%
d. Platypelloid: flattened, wide, shallow; 3% - Ans✔✔-d. Platypelloid: flattened,
wide, shallow; 3%
13. In relation to primary and secondary powers, the maternity nurse
comprehends that:
a. Primary powers are responsible for effacement and dilation of the cervix.
b. Effacement generally is well ahead of dilation in women giving birth for the
first time; they are closer together in subsequent pregnancies.
c. Scarring of the cervix caused by a previous infection or surgery may make the
delivery a bit more painful, but it should not slow or inhibit dilation.
d. Pushing in the second stage of labor is more effective if the woman can
breathe deeply and control some of her involuntary needs to push, as the
Exam Study Guide – Practice
Questions with Answers.
GRADED A+. Latest 2026/2027
Update.
Chapter 13: Labor and Birth Processes
1. A new mother asks the nurse when the soft spot on her sons head will go
away. The nurses answer is based on the knowledge that the anterior fontanel
closes after birth by _____ months.
a. 2 c. 12
b. 8 d. 18 - Ans✔✔-d. 18
2. When assessing a woman in labor, the nurse is aware that the relationship of
the fetal body parts to one another is called fetal:
a. Lie. c. Attitude.
b. Presentation. d. Position. - Ans✔✔-c. Attitude.
,3. When assessing the fetus using Leopold maneuvers, the nurse feels a round,
firm, movable fetal part in the fundal portion of the uterus and a long, smooth
surface in the mothers right side close to midline. What is the likely position of
the fetus?
a. ROA c. RSA
b. LSP d. LOA - Ans✔✔-c. RSA
4. The nurse has received report regarding her patient in labor. The womans
last vaginal examination was recorded as 3 cm, 30%, and ?2-2. The nurses
interpretation of this assessment is that:
a. The cervix is effaced 3 cm, it is dilated 30%, and the presenting part is 2 cm
above the ischial spines.
b. The cervix is 3 cm dilated, it is effaced 30%, and the presenting part is 2 cm
above the ischial spines.
c. The cervix is effaced 3 cm, it is dilated 30%, and the presenting part is 2 cm
below the ischial spines.
d. The cervix is dilated 3 cm, it is effaced 30%, and the presenting part is 2 cm
below the ischial spines. - Ans✔✔-b. The cervix is 3 cm dilated, it is effaced
30%, and the presenting part is 2 cm above the ischial spines.
5. To care for a laboring woman adequately, the nurse understands that the
__________ stage of labor varies the most in length?
a. First c. Third
b. Second d. Fourth - Ans✔✔-a. First
6. The nurse would expect which maternal cardiovascular finding during labor?
a. Increased cardiac output
b. Decreased pulse rate
,c. Decreased white blood cell (WBC) count
d. Decreased blood pressure - Ans✔✔-a. Increased cardiac output
7. The factors that affect the process of labor and birth, known commonly as
the five Ps, include all except:
a. Passenger. c. Powers.
b. Passageway. d. Pressure. - Ans✔✔-d. Pressure.
8. The slight overlapping of cranial bones or shaping of the fetal head during
labor is called:
a. Lightening. c. Ferguson reflex.
b. Molding. d. Valsalva maneuver. - Ans✔✔-b. Molding.
9. Which presentation is described accurately in terms of both presenting part
and frequency of occurrence?
a. Cephalic: occiput; at least 95% c. Shoulder: scapula; 10% to 15%
b. Breech: sacrum; 10% to 15% d. Cephalic: cranial; 80% to 85% - Ans✔✔-a.
Cephalic: occiput; at least 95%
10. With regard to factors that affect how the fetus moves through the birth
canal, nurses should be aware that:
a. The fetal attitude describes the angle at which the fetus exits the uterus.
b. Of the two primary fetal lies, the horizontal lie is that in which the long axis
of the fetus is parallel to the long axis of the mother.
c. The normal attitude of the fetus is called general flexion.
d. The transverse lie is preferred for vaginal birth. - Ans✔✔-c. The normal
attitude of the fetus is called general flexion.
, 11. As relates to fetal positioning during labor, nurses should be aware that:
a. Position is a measure of the degree of descent of the presenting part of the
fetus through the birth canal.
b. Birth is imminent when the presenting part is at +4 to +5 cm below the
spine.
c. The largest transverse diameter of the presenting part is the
suboccipitobregmatic diameter.
d. Engagement is the term used to describe the beginning of labor. - Ans✔✔-b.
Birth is imminent when the presenting part is at +4 to +5 cm below the spine.
12. Which basic type of pelvis includes the correct description and percentage
of occurrence in women?
a. Gynecoid: classic female; heart shaped; 75%
b. Android: resembling the male; wider oval; 15%
c. Anthropoid: resembling the ape; narrower; 10%
d. Platypelloid: flattened, wide, shallow; 3% - Ans✔✔-d. Platypelloid: flattened,
wide, shallow; 3%
13. In relation to primary and secondary powers, the maternity nurse
comprehends that:
a. Primary powers are responsible for effacement and dilation of the cervix.
b. Effacement generally is well ahead of dilation in women giving birth for the
first time; they are closer together in subsequent pregnancies.
c. Scarring of the cervix caused by a previous infection or surgery may make the
delivery a bit more painful, but it should not slow or inhibit dilation.
d. Pushing in the second stage of labor is more effective if the woman can
breathe deeply and control some of her involuntary needs to push, as the
