Maternal-Child Nursing Notes
Comprehensive Quiz Guide: 100+ Questions with Verified Answers
Section 1: Prenatal Care (Questions 1-20)
1. What is Nagele's rule for calculating expected due date (EDD)?
Answer: Subtract 3 months from the first day of the last menstrual period
(LMP), then add 7 days. Example: LMP January 10 = EDD October 17.
2. What are the presumptive signs of pregnancy?
Answer: Amenorrhea, nausea/vomiting, fatigue, breast tenderness, urinary
frequency, quickening (fetal movement felt by mother at 16-20 weeks).
3. What are the probable signs of pregnancy?
Answer: Positive pregnancy test, Goodell's sign (cervical softening),
Chadwick's sign (bluish cervix/vagina), Hegar's sign (uterine softening),
ballottement, enlarged abdomen.
4. What are the positive signs of pregnancy?
Answer: Fetal heartbeat detected (Doppler at 10-12 weeks), fetal
movement felt by examiner, visualization of fetus by ultrasound.
5. When can fetal heart tones be heard with a Doppler?
Answer: 10-12 weeks of gestation with Doppler ultrasound. With fetoscope,
around 18-20 weeks.
6. What is the normal fetal heart rate range?
Answer: 110-160 beats per minute. Rates outside this range require further
assessment for fetal distress.
7. What is quickening?
, Answer: The first fetal movements felt by the mother, typically occurring
between 16-20 weeks of gestation (earlier in multiparous women, later in
primiparous).
8. What is the recommended weight gain during pregnancy?
Answer: Depends on pre-pregnancy BMI. Normal weight: 25-35 lbs.
Underweight: 28-40 lbs. Overweight: 15-25 lbs. Obese: 11-20 lbs.
9. What prenatal vitamins are essential?
Answer: Folic acid (400-800 mcg to prevent neural tube defects), iron (27
mg for increased blood volume), calcium (1000 mg), vitamin D, DHA for
fetal brain development.
10. What foods should be avoided during pregnancy?
Answer: Raw/undercooked meat, fish high in mercury (shark, swordfish,
king mackerel), unpasteurized dairy, raw eggs, deli meats (listeria risk),
excessive caffeine, alcohol.
11. What is morning sickness and when does it typically occur?
Answer: Nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy, typically starting around 6
weeks, peaking at 8-12 weeks, and usually resolving by second trimester.
Caused by hormonal changes.
12. What is hyperemesis gravidarum?
Answer: Severe, persistent nausea and vomiting causing dehydration,
weight loss (>5% pre-pregnancy weight), electrolyte imbalance, and ketosis.
Requires hospitalization for IV fluids and antiemetics.
13. What is gestational diabetes?
Answer: Glucose intolerance first diagnosed during pregnancy. Screened at
24-28 weeks with glucose challenge test. Increases risk for large baby, C-
section, and future diabetes.
14. What are risk factors for gestational diabetes?
, Answer: Obesity, age >25, family history of diabetes, previous gestational
diabetes, previous large baby (>9 lbs), Hispanic/African American/Native
American/Asian ethnicity, PCOS.
15. What is preeclampsia?
Answer: Hypertensive disorder after 20 weeks gestation with BP ≥140/90
and proteinuria or end-organ damage. Signs: severe headache, visual
changes, epigastric pain, edema.
16. What is HELLP syndrome?
Answer: Severe form of preeclampsia: Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes,
Low Platelets. Life-threatening complication requiring immediate delivery.
17. What is placenta previa?
Answer: Placenta implants low in uterus, partially or completely covering
cervical os. Causes painless bright red vaginal bleeding in third trimester.
Diagnosed by ultrasound. May require C-section.
18. What is abruptio placentae?
Answer: Premature separation of normally implanted placenta causing
painful, dark red bleeding, rigid tender uterus, fetal distress. Medical
emergency requiring immediate delivery.
19. What is the difference between placenta previa and abruptio placentae?
Answer: Previa: painless, bright red bleeding, soft uterus. Abruptio: painful,
dark bleeding, rigid board-like uterus, fetal distress. Never perform vaginal
exam with previa.
20. What is an ectopic pregnancy?
Answer: Implantation outside uterus (usually fallopian tube). Causes
unilateral abdominal pain, shoulder pain (referred), vaginal bleeding,
positive pregnancy test. Risk for rupture and hemorrhage. Requires surgery
or methotrexate.
Comprehensive Quiz Guide: 100+ Questions with Verified Answers
Section 1: Prenatal Care (Questions 1-20)
1. What is Nagele's rule for calculating expected due date (EDD)?
Answer: Subtract 3 months from the first day of the last menstrual period
(LMP), then add 7 days. Example: LMP January 10 = EDD October 17.
2. What are the presumptive signs of pregnancy?
Answer: Amenorrhea, nausea/vomiting, fatigue, breast tenderness, urinary
frequency, quickening (fetal movement felt by mother at 16-20 weeks).
3. What are the probable signs of pregnancy?
Answer: Positive pregnancy test, Goodell's sign (cervical softening),
Chadwick's sign (bluish cervix/vagina), Hegar's sign (uterine softening),
ballottement, enlarged abdomen.
4. What are the positive signs of pregnancy?
Answer: Fetal heartbeat detected (Doppler at 10-12 weeks), fetal
movement felt by examiner, visualization of fetus by ultrasound.
5. When can fetal heart tones be heard with a Doppler?
Answer: 10-12 weeks of gestation with Doppler ultrasound. With fetoscope,
around 18-20 weeks.
6. What is the normal fetal heart rate range?
Answer: 110-160 beats per minute. Rates outside this range require further
assessment for fetal distress.
7. What is quickening?
, Answer: The first fetal movements felt by the mother, typically occurring
between 16-20 weeks of gestation (earlier in multiparous women, later in
primiparous).
8. What is the recommended weight gain during pregnancy?
Answer: Depends on pre-pregnancy BMI. Normal weight: 25-35 lbs.
Underweight: 28-40 lbs. Overweight: 15-25 lbs. Obese: 11-20 lbs.
9. What prenatal vitamins are essential?
Answer: Folic acid (400-800 mcg to prevent neural tube defects), iron (27
mg for increased blood volume), calcium (1000 mg), vitamin D, DHA for
fetal brain development.
10. What foods should be avoided during pregnancy?
Answer: Raw/undercooked meat, fish high in mercury (shark, swordfish,
king mackerel), unpasteurized dairy, raw eggs, deli meats (listeria risk),
excessive caffeine, alcohol.
11. What is morning sickness and when does it typically occur?
Answer: Nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy, typically starting around 6
weeks, peaking at 8-12 weeks, and usually resolving by second trimester.
Caused by hormonal changes.
12. What is hyperemesis gravidarum?
Answer: Severe, persistent nausea and vomiting causing dehydration,
weight loss (>5% pre-pregnancy weight), electrolyte imbalance, and ketosis.
Requires hospitalization for IV fluids and antiemetics.
13. What is gestational diabetes?
Answer: Glucose intolerance first diagnosed during pregnancy. Screened at
24-28 weeks with glucose challenge test. Increases risk for large baby, C-
section, and future diabetes.
14. What are risk factors for gestational diabetes?
, Answer: Obesity, age >25, family history of diabetes, previous gestational
diabetes, previous large baby (>9 lbs), Hispanic/African American/Native
American/Asian ethnicity, PCOS.
15. What is preeclampsia?
Answer: Hypertensive disorder after 20 weeks gestation with BP ≥140/90
and proteinuria or end-organ damage. Signs: severe headache, visual
changes, epigastric pain, edema.
16. What is HELLP syndrome?
Answer: Severe form of preeclampsia: Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes,
Low Platelets. Life-threatening complication requiring immediate delivery.
17. What is placenta previa?
Answer: Placenta implants low in uterus, partially or completely covering
cervical os. Causes painless bright red vaginal bleeding in third trimester.
Diagnosed by ultrasound. May require C-section.
18. What is abruptio placentae?
Answer: Premature separation of normally implanted placenta causing
painful, dark red bleeding, rigid tender uterus, fetal distress. Medical
emergency requiring immediate delivery.
19. What is the difference between placenta previa and abruptio placentae?
Answer: Previa: painless, bright red bleeding, soft uterus. Abruptio: painful,
dark bleeding, rigid board-like uterus, fetal distress. Never perform vaginal
exam with previa.
20. What is an ectopic pregnancy?
Answer: Implantation outside uterus (usually fallopian tube). Causes
unilateral abdominal pain, shoulder pain (referred), vaginal bleeding,
positive pregnancy test. Risk for rupture and hemorrhage. Requires surgery
or methotrexate.
