HESI OB/Maternity – Labor and Delivery Exam with
300+ detailed Questions and Answers with Rationales
2026/2027 Update
Labor Fundamentals
1. Which finding is most characteristic of true labor?
A. Irregular contractions that decrease with activity
B. Progressive cervical dilation and effacement
C. Contractions relieved by hydration
D. Discomfort confined to the abdomen
Answer: B
Rationale: True labor produces regular contractions
accompanied by progressive cervical change.
2. What is the first stage of labor?
A. Birth of the fetus
B. Placental delivery
C. Cervical dilation from 0 to 10 cm
D. Maternal recovery
Answer: C
Rationale: The first stage begins with true labor and ends when
the cervix reaches complete dilation.
3. The second stage of labor begins when:
A. Contractions begin
B. The cervix reaches 5 cm
C. The cervix is completely dilated
D. The placenta separates
,Answer: C
Rationale: The second stage extends from complete cervical
dilation through birth of the infant.
4. The third stage of labor ends with:
A. Complete cervical dilation
B. Birth of the newborn
C. Delivery of the placenta
D. Uterine involution
Answer: C
Rationale: The third stage is the period from newborn birth
until placental delivery.
5. Which assessment best indicates that labor is progressing?
A. Maternal pulse decreases
B. Cervical dilation and effacement increase
C. Maternal temperature decreases
D. Fetal movement stops
Answer: B
Rationale: Progressive dilation and effacement are objective
indicators of labor progression.
6. Effacement refers to:
A. Cervical opening
B. Cervical thinning and shortening
C. Fetal descent
D. Placental separation
,Answer: B
Rationale: Effacement describes shortening and thinning of the
cervix, expressed as a percentage.
7. A cervix that is 10 cm dilated is described as:
A. Closed
B. Complete
C. Partially effaced
D. Station zero
Answer: B
Rationale: Complete cervical dilation is 10 cm.
8. Which fetal presentation is most favorable for vaginal
birth?
A. Brow
B. Face
C. Vertex
D. Shoulder
Answer: C
Rationale: A vertex presentation with the occiput presenting is
the usual favorable presentation.
9. In a cephalic presentation, the presenting fetal part is the:
A. Shoulder
B. Buttocks
C. Head
D. Foot
, Answer: C
Rationale: Cephalic presentation means the fetal head presents
first.
10. What does fetal station describe?
A. Cervical dilation
B. Fetal position relative to the ischial spines
C. Placental location
D. Contraction intensity
Answer: B
Rationale: Station measures fetal descent in relation to the
maternal ischial spines.
11. At 0 station, the presenting fetal part is:
A. Above the pelvic inlet
B. At the level of the ischial spines
C. At the vaginal opening
D. Above the fundus
Answer: B
Rationale: Zero station means the presenting part is level with
the ischial spines.
12. A station of +2 indicates that the fetus is:
A. Above the pelvic inlet
B. At the ischial spines
C. Below the ischial spines
D. Undelivered by cesarean birth
300+ detailed Questions and Answers with Rationales
2026/2027 Update
Labor Fundamentals
1. Which finding is most characteristic of true labor?
A. Irregular contractions that decrease with activity
B. Progressive cervical dilation and effacement
C. Contractions relieved by hydration
D. Discomfort confined to the abdomen
Answer: B
Rationale: True labor produces regular contractions
accompanied by progressive cervical change.
2. What is the first stage of labor?
A. Birth of the fetus
B. Placental delivery
C. Cervical dilation from 0 to 10 cm
D. Maternal recovery
Answer: C
Rationale: The first stage begins with true labor and ends when
the cervix reaches complete dilation.
3. The second stage of labor begins when:
A. Contractions begin
B. The cervix reaches 5 cm
C. The cervix is completely dilated
D. The placenta separates
,Answer: C
Rationale: The second stage extends from complete cervical
dilation through birth of the infant.
4. The third stage of labor ends with:
A. Complete cervical dilation
B. Birth of the newborn
C. Delivery of the placenta
D. Uterine involution
Answer: C
Rationale: The third stage is the period from newborn birth
until placental delivery.
5. Which assessment best indicates that labor is progressing?
A. Maternal pulse decreases
B. Cervical dilation and effacement increase
C. Maternal temperature decreases
D. Fetal movement stops
Answer: B
Rationale: Progressive dilation and effacement are objective
indicators of labor progression.
6. Effacement refers to:
A. Cervical opening
B. Cervical thinning and shortening
C. Fetal descent
D. Placental separation
,Answer: B
Rationale: Effacement describes shortening and thinning of the
cervix, expressed as a percentage.
7. A cervix that is 10 cm dilated is described as:
A. Closed
B. Complete
C. Partially effaced
D. Station zero
Answer: B
Rationale: Complete cervical dilation is 10 cm.
8. Which fetal presentation is most favorable for vaginal
birth?
A. Brow
B. Face
C. Vertex
D. Shoulder
Answer: C
Rationale: A vertex presentation with the occiput presenting is
the usual favorable presentation.
9. In a cephalic presentation, the presenting fetal part is the:
A. Shoulder
B. Buttocks
C. Head
D. Foot
, Answer: C
Rationale: Cephalic presentation means the fetal head presents
first.
10. What does fetal station describe?
A. Cervical dilation
B. Fetal position relative to the ischial spines
C. Placental location
D. Contraction intensity
Answer: B
Rationale: Station measures fetal descent in relation to the
maternal ischial spines.
11. At 0 station, the presenting fetal part is:
A. Above the pelvic inlet
B. At the level of the ischial spines
C. At the vaginal opening
D. Above the fundus
Answer: B
Rationale: Zero station means the presenting part is level with
the ischial spines.
12. A station of +2 indicates that the fetus is:
A. Above the pelvic inlet
B. At the ischial spines
C. Below the ischial spines
D. Undelivered by cesarean birth
