NURS 326
NURS 326 Maternity Exam 2 with Correct
Answers 2026
premonitory signs of labor
- braxton hicks contractions
- lightening
- increase in clear and non-irritating vaginal secretions (mucus plug)
- "bloody show" on toilet paper
- energy spurt / nesting
- small weight loss
- sometimes diarrhea
- back ache
- cervix ripening
true vs false labor: pain
true labor:
- pain in lower back that radiates to abdomen
false labor:
- discomfort localized in abdomen
- NO LOWER BACK PAIN
true vs false labor: contractions
true labor:
- contractions INTENSIFY w/ ambulation
false labor:
- contractions DECREASE in intensity/frequency w/ ambulation
T/F: in true labor, there will be progressive cervical dilation and effacement
TRUE
what is effacement?
thinning of the cervix
effacement is measured in...
NURS 326
,NURS 326
%
dilation is measured in...
cm
T/F: effacement always occurs first, THEN dilation
FALSE
- this is only true for the FIRST BABY
- for subsequent babies, effacement and dilation will happen AT THE SAME TIME
5 P's of labor
- POWERS: contractions
- PASSAGE: maternal pelvis and cervix
- PASSENGER: fetus
- POSITION: mother standing, squatting, lithotomy, etc.
- PSYCHE: maternal response
T/F: contractions are involuntary
TRUE
how is duration measured?
- from beginning of the contraction to the end of that same contraction
- in SECONDS
how is frequency measured?
- from beginning of one contraction to the beginning of the NEXT contraction
- in MINUTES
true labor is defined by...
cervical change (dilation and effacement)
fully dilated and fully effaced means...
- 10 cm dilated
- 100% effaced
***aka "complete"
which part of the pelvis does the baby travel thru during birth?
true pelvis
NURS 326
, NURS 326
which is the part of the uterus that relaxes?
retraction ring
what are rugae?
ridges in the vagina that stretch out during birth, allowing fetus to pass thru
during birth, pelvic floor muscles help to...
rotate the baby
what is molding?
baby's head changes shape going thru the birth canal, since sutures are not fused
what is attitude?
flexion of the baby's neck
what is presentation?
what part of the baby is coming out first
what is position?
presenting landmark on baby relative to mother's pelvis
what is fetal lie?
baby's spine in relation to mother's spine
what is station?
where the head (or whatever presenting part) is in relation to mother's itial spine
anterior fontanel closes at...
12-18 months
(diamond-shaped)
posterior fontanel closes at...
8-12 weeks
(triangular-shaped)
a well-flexed attitude is important because...
it will DECREASE biparietal diameter to allow smallest angle of skull for delivery thru
pelvis
NURS 326
NURS 326 Maternity Exam 2 with Correct
Answers 2026
premonitory signs of labor
- braxton hicks contractions
- lightening
- increase in clear and non-irritating vaginal secretions (mucus plug)
- "bloody show" on toilet paper
- energy spurt / nesting
- small weight loss
- sometimes diarrhea
- back ache
- cervix ripening
true vs false labor: pain
true labor:
- pain in lower back that radiates to abdomen
false labor:
- discomfort localized in abdomen
- NO LOWER BACK PAIN
true vs false labor: contractions
true labor:
- contractions INTENSIFY w/ ambulation
false labor:
- contractions DECREASE in intensity/frequency w/ ambulation
T/F: in true labor, there will be progressive cervical dilation and effacement
TRUE
what is effacement?
thinning of the cervix
effacement is measured in...
NURS 326
,NURS 326
%
dilation is measured in...
cm
T/F: effacement always occurs first, THEN dilation
FALSE
- this is only true for the FIRST BABY
- for subsequent babies, effacement and dilation will happen AT THE SAME TIME
5 P's of labor
- POWERS: contractions
- PASSAGE: maternal pelvis and cervix
- PASSENGER: fetus
- POSITION: mother standing, squatting, lithotomy, etc.
- PSYCHE: maternal response
T/F: contractions are involuntary
TRUE
how is duration measured?
- from beginning of the contraction to the end of that same contraction
- in SECONDS
how is frequency measured?
- from beginning of one contraction to the beginning of the NEXT contraction
- in MINUTES
true labor is defined by...
cervical change (dilation and effacement)
fully dilated and fully effaced means...
- 10 cm dilated
- 100% effaced
***aka "complete"
which part of the pelvis does the baby travel thru during birth?
true pelvis
NURS 326
, NURS 326
which is the part of the uterus that relaxes?
retraction ring
what are rugae?
ridges in the vagina that stretch out during birth, allowing fetus to pass thru
during birth, pelvic floor muscles help to...
rotate the baby
what is molding?
baby's head changes shape going thru the birth canal, since sutures are not fused
what is attitude?
flexion of the baby's neck
what is presentation?
what part of the baby is coming out first
what is position?
presenting landmark on baby relative to mother's pelvis
what is fetal lie?
baby's spine in relation to mother's spine
what is station?
where the head (or whatever presenting part) is in relation to mother's itial spine
anterior fontanel closes at...
12-18 months
(diamond-shaped)
posterior fontanel closes at...
8-12 weeks
(triangular-shaped)
a well-flexed attitude is important because...
it will DECREASE biparietal diameter to allow smallest angle of skull for delivery thru
pelvis
NURS 326
