HESI OB/Maternity – Comprehensive Exam Review with
300+ detailed Questions and Answers with Rationales
2026/2027 Update
Antepartum Assessment & Pregnancy
1. Which finding is considered a positive sign of pregnancy?
A. Amenorrhea
B. Positive pregnancy test
C. Fetal heart tones detected by Doppler
D. Breast tenderness
Answer: C
Rationale: Positive signs are directly attributable to the fetus,
such as fetal heart activity, fetal movement palpated by an
examiner, and visualization of the fetus.
2. Which finding is a presumptive sign of pregnancy?
A. Fetal heart rate
B. Ultrasound visualization
C. Amenorrhea
D. Fetal movement palpated by the examiner
Answer: C
Rationale: Amenorrhea is a presumptive sign because other
conditions can cause absent menstruation.
3. A client reports nausea and vomiting during early
pregnancy. Which teaching is appropriate?
A. Eat three large meals daily
,B. Keep crackers available and eat small frequent meals
C. Avoid carbohydrates completely
D. Drink large amounts of fluid with meals
Answer: B
Rationale: Small, frequent meals and dry crackers before
getting out of bed may help reduce nausea.
4. Which nutrient is particularly important before and during
early pregnancy to reduce neural tube defects?
A. Vitamin C
B. Folic acid
C. Vitamin K
D. Calcium
Answer: B
Rationale: Adequate folic acid before conception and during
early pregnancy decreases the risk of neural tube defects.
5. Which food is an excellent source of folate?
A. Leafy green vegetables
B. Butter
C. Hard candy
D. Bacon
Answer: A
Rationale: Leafy green vegetables and fortified grains are
important sources of folate.
6. Which finding during pregnancy should the nurse report
immediately?
,A. Mild fatigue
B. Urinary frequency during early pregnancy
C. Vaginal bleeding
D. Breast tenderness
Answer: C
Rationale: Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy can indicate
complications and requires evaluation.
7. Which physiologic change normally occurs during
pregnancy?
A. Decreased blood volume
B. Increased plasma volume
C. Decreased cardiac output
D. Decreased oxygen consumption
Answer: B
Rationale: Plasma volume increases substantially during
pregnancy to support maternal and fetal circulation.
8. Why does the maternal heart rate commonly increase
during pregnancy?
A. To support increased circulatory demands
B. Because maternal blood volume decreases
C. Because oxygen requirements decrease
D. Because cardiac output decreases
Answer: A
Rationale: Increased cardiac output helps meet maternal and
fetal metabolic demands.
, 9. Which position should a pregnant client avoid for prolonged
periods after midpregnancy?
A. Left lateral
B. Right lateral
C. Supine
D. Semi-Fowler's
Answer: C
Rationale: The enlarged uterus can compress the vena cava in
the supine position, reducing venous return.
10. Which position generally improves maternal circulation
when supine hypotension occurs?
A. Flat supine
B. Left lateral
C. Prone
D. High Fowler's
Answer: B
Rationale: Left lateral positioning helps relieve pressure on the
vena cava and improve venous return.
11. A pregnant client asks why she is urinating frequently
during the first trimester. What is the best explanation?
A. It always indicates infection
B. The enlarging uterus and increased renal blood flow
contribute to frequency
C. It means gestational diabetes is present
D. It indicates kidney failure
300+ detailed Questions and Answers with Rationales
2026/2027 Update
Antepartum Assessment & Pregnancy
1. Which finding is considered a positive sign of pregnancy?
A. Amenorrhea
B. Positive pregnancy test
C. Fetal heart tones detected by Doppler
D. Breast tenderness
Answer: C
Rationale: Positive signs are directly attributable to the fetus,
such as fetal heart activity, fetal movement palpated by an
examiner, and visualization of the fetus.
2. Which finding is a presumptive sign of pregnancy?
A. Fetal heart rate
B. Ultrasound visualization
C. Amenorrhea
D. Fetal movement palpated by the examiner
Answer: C
Rationale: Amenorrhea is a presumptive sign because other
conditions can cause absent menstruation.
3. A client reports nausea and vomiting during early
pregnancy. Which teaching is appropriate?
A. Eat three large meals daily
,B. Keep crackers available and eat small frequent meals
C. Avoid carbohydrates completely
D. Drink large amounts of fluid with meals
Answer: B
Rationale: Small, frequent meals and dry crackers before
getting out of bed may help reduce nausea.
4. Which nutrient is particularly important before and during
early pregnancy to reduce neural tube defects?
A. Vitamin C
B. Folic acid
C. Vitamin K
D. Calcium
Answer: B
Rationale: Adequate folic acid before conception and during
early pregnancy decreases the risk of neural tube defects.
5. Which food is an excellent source of folate?
A. Leafy green vegetables
B. Butter
C. Hard candy
D. Bacon
Answer: A
Rationale: Leafy green vegetables and fortified grains are
important sources of folate.
6. Which finding during pregnancy should the nurse report
immediately?
,A. Mild fatigue
B. Urinary frequency during early pregnancy
C. Vaginal bleeding
D. Breast tenderness
Answer: C
Rationale: Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy can indicate
complications and requires evaluation.
7. Which physiologic change normally occurs during
pregnancy?
A. Decreased blood volume
B. Increased plasma volume
C. Decreased cardiac output
D. Decreased oxygen consumption
Answer: B
Rationale: Plasma volume increases substantially during
pregnancy to support maternal and fetal circulation.
8. Why does the maternal heart rate commonly increase
during pregnancy?
A. To support increased circulatory demands
B. Because maternal blood volume decreases
C. Because oxygen requirements decrease
D. Because cardiac output decreases
Answer: A
Rationale: Increased cardiac output helps meet maternal and
fetal metabolic demands.
, 9. Which position should a pregnant client avoid for prolonged
periods after midpregnancy?
A. Left lateral
B. Right lateral
C. Supine
D. Semi-Fowler's
Answer: C
Rationale: The enlarged uterus can compress the vena cava in
the supine position, reducing venous return.
10. Which position generally improves maternal circulation
when supine hypotension occurs?
A. Flat supine
B. Left lateral
C. Prone
D. High Fowler's
Answer: B
Rationale: Left lateral positioning helps relieve pressure on the
vena cava and improve venous return.
11. A pregnant client asks why she is urinating frequently
during the first trimester. What is the best explanation?
A. It always indicates infection
B. The enlarging uterus and increased renal blood flow
contribute to frequency
C. It means gestational diabetes is present
D. It indicates kidney failure
