NACE Care of the Childbearing Family Exam Questions
and Answers with Rationales 2026/2027
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Preconception, Prenatal Care & Pregnancy Assessment
2. Maternal Nutrition, Discomforts & Antepartum Teaching
3. High-Risk Pregnancy & Antepartum Complications
4. Labor, Delivery & Intrapartum Nursing Care
5. Postpartum Assessment & Complications
6. Newborn Assessment & Immediate Care
7. Newborn Complications, Feeding & Family Adaptation
8. Comprehensive Childbearing-Family Review
SECTION 1 — PRECONCEPTION, PRENATAL CARE & PREGNANCY ASSESSMENT
1. Which supplement is recommended before and during early pregnancy to
reduce the risk of neural tube defects?
A. Vitamin C
B. Folic acid
C. Vitamin K
D. Calcium only
Answer: B
,Rationale: Adequate folic acid before conception and during early pregnancy
reduces the risk of neural tube defects.
2. Which finding is considered a positive sign of pregnancy?
A. Amenorrhea
B. Nausea
C. Fetal heart activity detected by Doppler
D. Breast tenderness
Answer: C
Rationale: Positive signs are findings that can be attributed only to pregnancy,
such as fetal heart activity, visualization of the fetus, or fetal movement palpated
by an examiner.
3. Which finding is considered a presumptive sign of pregnancy?
A. Fetal heart rate
B. Ultrasound visualization of the fetus
C. Amenorrhea
D. Fetal movement palpated by the examiner
Answer: C
Rationale: Amenorrhea is a presumptive sign because it can occur for reasons
other than pregnancy.
4. Which assessment is commonly performed at the initial prenatal visit?
A. Complete health and obstetric history
B. Newborn hearing screen
C. Apgar scoring
D. Postpartum depression screening only
Answer: A
,Rationale: The initial prenatal visit establishes baseline maternal health,
pregnancy history, risk factors, medications, nutrition, and psychosocial
information.
5. Which factor increases the risk of pregnancy complications?
A. Adequate prenatal care
B. Uncontrolled chronic disease
C. Balanced nutrition
D. Appropriate exercise
Answer: B
Rationale: Uncontrolled chronic conditions such as hypertension or diabetes can
significantly increase maternal and fetal risk.
6. What is the purpose of prenatal care?
A. Detect and manage maternal and fetal complications
B. Prevent all normal discomforts
C. Determine the newborn's personality
D. Eliminate the need for health teaching
Answer: A
Rationale: Prenatal care promotes maternal-fetal health, identifies risk factors,
and detects complications early.
7. Which statement about pregnancy dating is correct?
A. The estimated due date can be determined from the last menstrual period.
B. The due date is always exact.
C. Pregnancy lasts exactly 40 weeks for every person.
D. Ultrasound is never useful for dating.
Answer: A
, Rationale: The last menstrual period is traditionally used to estimate gestational
age, while ultrasound can assist with dating when indicated.
8. A pregnant patient asks why prenatal visits become more frequent later in
pregnancy. What is the best response?
A. “Closer monitoring allows your health and the fetus to be assessed as
pregnancy progresses.”
B. “Frequent visits are only required for high-risk pregnancies.”
C. “The visits are mainly for paperwork.”
D. “The fetus stops developing unless you attend.”
Answer: A
Rationale: Visit frequency generally increases later in pregnancy to monitor
maternal and fetal well-being.
9. Which medication history is most important during preconception
counseling?
A. Prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal products
B. Favorite foods only
C. Clothing preferences
D. Exercise preferences only
Answer: A
Rationale: Some medications and supplements can affect fertility, pregnancy, or
fetal development.
10. Which lifestyle recommendation is appropriate before conception?
A. Stop tobacco and nicotine use.
B. Begin crash dieting.
C. Increase alcohol consumption.
D. Stop all physical activity.
and Answers with Rationales 2026/2027
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Preconception, Prenatal Care & Pregnancy Assessment
2. Maternal Nutrition, Discomforts & Antepartum Teaching
3. High-Risk Pregnancy & Antepartum Complications
4. Labor, Delivery & Intrapartum Nursing Care
5. Postpartum Assessment & Complications
6. Newborn Assessment & Immediate Care
7. Newborn Complications, Feeding & Family Adaptation
8. Comprehensive Childbearing-Family Review
SECTION 1 — PRECONCEPTION, PRENATAL CARE & PREGNANCY ASSESSMENT
1. Which supplement is recommended before and during early pregnancy to
reduce the risk of neural tube defects?
A. Vitamin C
B. Folic acid
C. Vitamin K
D. Calcium only
Answer: B
,Rationale: Adequate folic acid before conception and during early pregnancy
reduces the risk of neural tube defects.
2. Which finding is considered a positive sign of pregnancy?
A. Amenorrhea
B. Nausea
C. Fetal heart activity detected by Doppler
D. Breast tenderness
Answer: C
Rationale: Positive signs are findings that can be attributed only to pregnancy,
such as fetal heart activity, visualization of the fetus, or fetal movement palpated
by an examiner.
3. Which finding is considered a presumptive sign of pregnancy?
A. Fetal heart rate
B. Ultrasound visualization of the fetus
C. Amenorrhea
D. Fetal movement palpated by the examiner
Answer: C
Rationale: Amenorrhea is a presumptive sign because it can occur for reasons
other than pregnancy.
4. Which assessment is commonly performed at the initial prenatal visit?
A. Complete health and obstetric history
B. Newborn hearing screen
C. Apgar scoring
D. Postpartum depression screening only
Answer: A
,Rationale: The initial prenatal visit establishes baseline maternal health,
pregnancy history, risk factors, medications, nutrition, and psychosocial
information.
5. Which factor increases the risk of pregnancy complications?
A. Adequate prenatal care
B. Uncontrolled chronic disease
C. Balanced nutrition
D. Appropriate exercise
Answer: B
Rationale: Uncontrolled chronic conditions such as hypertension or diabetes can
significantly increase maternal and fetal risk.
6. What is the purpose of prenatal care?
A. Detect and manage maternal and fetal complications
B. Prevent all normal discomforts
C. Determine the newborn's personality
D. Eliminate the need for health teaching
Answer: A
Rationale: Prenatal care promotes maternal-fetal health, identifies risk factors,
and detects complications early.
7. Which statement about pregnancy dating is correct?
A. The estimated due date can be determined from the last menstrual period.
B. The due date is always exact.
C. Pregnancy lasts exactly 40 weeks for every person.
D. Ultrasound is never useful for dating.
Answer: A
, Rationale: The last menstrual period is traditionally used to estimate gestational
age, while ultrasound can assist with dating when indicated.
8. A pregnant patient asks why prenatal visits become more frequent later in
pregnancy. What is the best response?
A. “Closer monitoring allows your health and the fetus to be assessed as
pregnancy progresses.”
B. “Frequent visits are only required for high-risk pregnancies.”
C. “The visits are mainly for paperwork.”
D. “The fetus stops developing unless you attend.”
Answer: A
Rationale: Visit frequency generally increases later in pregnancy to monitor
maternal and fetal well-being.
9. Which medication history is most important during preconception
counseling?
A. Prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal products
B. Favorite foods only
C. Clothing preferences
D. Exercise preferences only
Answer: A
Rationale: Some medications and supplements can affect fertility, pregnancy, or
fetal development.
10. Which lifestyle recommendation is appropriate before conception?
A. Stop tobacco and nicotine use.
B. Begin crash dieting.
C. Increase alcohol consumption.
D. Stop all physical activity.
