NACE Care of the Childbearing Family Final Exam Questions
and Answers with Rationales 2026/2027
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Preconception & Prenatal Care
2. Normal Pregnancy & Maternal Adaptations
3. Nutrition, Discomforts & Health Promotion
4. Antepartum Assessment & High-Risk Pregnancy
5. Labor & Delivery
6. Labor Complications & Fetal Assessment
7. Postpartum Care & Complications
8. Newborn Care & Complications
9. Psychosocial, Family, Cultural & Comprehensive Review
SECTION I — PRECONCEPTION & PRENATAL CARE
1.
A client planning pregnancy asks why folic acid should be started before
conception. What is the best response?
A. It prevents gestational hypertension.
B. It reduces the risk of neural tube defects.
C. It prevents postpartum hemorrhage.
D. It prevents all congenital abnormalities.
,Answer: B
Rationale: Adequate folic acid before conception and during early pregnancy
reduces the risk of fetal neural tube defects.
2.
Which client requires priority preconception counseling?
A. A client who exercises regularly
B. A client taking a potentially teratogenic medication
C. A client eating a balanced diet
D. A client with normal blood pressure
Answer: B
Rationale: Potentially teratogenic medications may cause fetal abnormalities.
Medication safety should be reviewed before conception whenever possible.
3.
Which substance should be completely avoided during pregnancy?
A. Alcohol
B. Pasteurized milk
C. Whole grains
D. Fresh fruit
Answer: A
Rationale: No amount of alcohol has been established as safe during pregnancy.
Prenatal alcohol exposure can cause fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
4.
Which client statement demonstrates appropriate pregnancy planning?
,A. "I will stop all prescribed medications when I become pregnant."
B. "I will review my medications with my healthcare provider before conception."
C. "Natural supplements are always safe."
D. "Prenatal care is unnecessary until the third trimester."
Answer: B
Rationale: Medication review before conception helps identify medications that
may require adjustment or substitution.
5.
Which is a presumptive sign of pregnancy?
A. Fetal heart activity
B. Visualization of the fetus by ultrasound
C. Amenorrhea
D. Fetal movement palpated by an examiner
Answer: C
Rationale: Amenorrhea is a presumptive sign. Positive signs directly confirm the
presence of a fetus.
6.
Which finding is a positive sign of pregnancy?
A. Nausea
B. Breast tenderness
C. Fetal heart activity
D. Amenorrhea
Answer: C
Rationale: Fetal heart activity is a positive sign because it is directly attributable
to the fetus.
, 7.
When should prenatal care ideally begin?
A. At 20 weeks
B. After fetal movement begins
C. As soon as pregnancy is suspected or confirmed
D. During the third trimester
Answer: C
Rationale: Early prenatal care allows risk assessment, screening, nutritional
counseling, and early management of complications.
8.
Which prenatal symptom requires immediate evaluation?
A. Mild fatigue
B. Urinary frequency
C. Heavy vaginal bleeding
D. Mild breast tenderness
Answer: C
Rationale: Significant vaginal bleeding can indicate miscarriage, ectopic
pregnancy, placenta previa, abruption, or another serious complication.
9.
Which vaccine is generally recommended during pregnancy?
A. Live varicella vaccine
B. Live intranasal influenza vaccine
C. Inactivated influenza vaccine
D. Live measles vaccine
Answer: C
and Answers with Rationales 2026/2027
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Preconception & Prenatal Care
2. Normal Pregnancy & Maternal Adaptations
3. Nutrition, Discomforts & Health Promotion
4. Antepartum Assessment & High-Risk Pregnancy
5. Labor & Delivery
6. Labor Complications & Fetal Assessment
7. Postpartum Care & Complications
8. Newborn Care & Complications
9. Psychosocial, Family, Cultural & Comprehensive Review
SECTION I — PRECONCEPTION & PRENATAL CARE
1.
A client planning pregnancy asks why folic acid should be started before
conception. What is the best response?
A. It prevents gestational hypertension.
B. It reduces the risk of neural tube defects.
C. It prevents postpartum hemorrhage.
D. It prevents all congenital abnormalities.
,Answer: B
Rationale: Adequate folic acid before conception and during early pregnancy
reduces the risk of fetal neural tube defects.
2.
Which client requires priority preconception counseling?
A. A client who exercises regularly
B. A client taking a potentially teratogenic medication
C. A client eating a balanced diet
D. A client with normal blood pressure
Answer: B
Rationale: Potentially teratogenic medications may cause fetal abnormalities.
Medication safety should be reviewed before conception whenever possible.
3.
Which substance should be completely avoided during pregnancy?
A. Alcohol
B. Pasteurized milk
C. Whole grains
D. Fresh fruit
Answer: A
Rationale: No amount of alcohol has been established as safe during pregnancy.
Prenatal alcohol exposure can cause fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
4.
Which client statement demonstrates appropriate pregnancy planning?
,A. "I will stop all prescribed medications when I become pregnant."
B. "I will review my medications with my healthcare provider before conception."
C. "Natural supplements are always safe."
D. "Prenatal care is unnecessary until the third trimester."
Answer: B
Rationale: Medication review before conception helps identify medications that
may require adjustment or substitution.
5.
Which is a presumptive sign of pregnancy?
A. Fetal heart activity
B. Visualization of the fetus by ultrasound
C. Amenorrhea
D. Fetal movement palpated by an examiner
Answer: C
Rationale: Amenorrhea is a presumptive sign. Positive signs directly confirm the
presence of a fetus.
6.
Which finding is a positive sign of pregnancy?
A. Nausea
B. Breast tenderness
C. Fetal heart activity
D. Amenorrhea
Answer: C
Rationale: Fetal heart activity is a positive sign because it is directly attributable
to the fetus.
, 7.
When should prenatal care ideally begin?
A. At 20 weeks
B. After fetal movement begins
C. As soon as pregnancy is suspected or confirmed
D. During the third trimester
Answer: C
Rationale: Early prenatal care allows risk assessment, screening, nutritional
counseling, and early management of complications.
8.
Which prenatal symptom requires immediate evaluation?
A. Mild fatigue
B. Urinary frequency
C. Heavy vaginal bleeding
D. Mild breast tenderness
Answer: C
Rationale: Significant vaginal bleeding can indicate miscarriage, ectopic
pregnancy, placenta previa, abruption, or another serious complication.
9.
Which vaccine is generally recommended during pregnancy?
A. Live varicella vaccine
B. Live intranasal influenza vaccine
C. Inactivated influenza vaccine
D. Live measles vaccine
Answer: C
