1 AWHONN FETAL HEART MONITORING BASICS
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
Which contraction characteristics can be assessed with a tocodynamometer?
a) Frequency
b) Duration
c) Intensity
Ans: a) Frequency
b) Duration
QUESTION>>>> All Fetuses of mothers in labor experience an interruption of
the oxygenation pathway at which point?
Ans: Uterus
QUESTION>>>> The FHR can be monitored using doppler ultrasound?
a) Throughout labor and delivery unless the use of a more accurate method is
clearly indicated
b) Internally
c) Only early in labor
d) The FHR cannot be monitored by doppler ultrasound
Ans: a) Throughout labor and delivery unless the use of a more accurate
method is clearly indicated
QUESTION>>>> What is the normal range for FHR base line in a term infant?
a) 80-120 bpm
, 2
b) 110-160 bpm
c) 140-180bpm
d) it depends on the sex of the fetus
Ans: b) 110-160 bpm
QUESTION>>>> Trace the flow of oxygen from mother to fetus and back.
Ans: Mother's inhalation to lungs to mat. circulatory system to hemoglobin in
RBC's to bloodstream in uterus. Uterus to spiral arteries to placenta to
intervillous space to travel via simple diffusion into the villi. The capillaries to
the umb. vein to the fetus.
The umb. artery sends waste (CO2) to the intervillous space to the mothers
venous system.
QUESTION>>>> What factors impact maternal oxygen delivery?
Ans: 1. Mother (blood plasma, cardiac output, hemoglobin concentration & O2
saturation)
2. Placenta/intervillous space (uterine contractions & calcification's)
3. Fetus (vagal response aka decel or cord compression)
QUESTION>>>> By what % does maternal cardiac output increase above the
non-pregnant state and what position helps this uteroplacental blood flow?
Ans: 30-50%
lateral recumbent or semi-Fowler's
Master01 | Dec, 2024/2025 | Latest update
, 3
QUESTION>>>> Define tachysystole contractions and the cause of.
Ans: >5 contractions in 10 min (more frequently than Q 2 min) averaged over
30 min window.
Caused by oxytocin, aminoinfusion or in rare cases spontaneously.
QUESTION>>>> List interventions for tachysystole contractions.
Ans: Maintaining mat. volume, mat. positioning, intravenous hydration.
Decreasing mat. pain/anxiety.
1. Reposition pt to side.
2. Admin IV fluid bolus.
3. Admin 0.25mg terbutaline SQ.
4. Admin O2 10L via non rebreather face mask.
QUESTION>>>> Describe passive diffusion as related to the maternal placental
fetal system.
Ans: higher conc. to lower concentration.
1.Oxygen from maternal (higher) to fetal compartment (lower) to fetal hgb
then transported to fetal tissue.
2. CO2 returns to intervillous space by passive diffusion and is removed by the
mat. venous system.
Master01 | Dec, 2024/2025 | Latest update
, 4
QUESTION>>>> Maternal hypotension is a potential side effect of regional
anesthesia and analgesia. What nursing interventions could you use to raise the
client's blood pressure? Choose all that apply.
A) Place the woman in a supine position.
B) Place the woman in a lateral position.
C) Increase intravenous (IV) fluids.
D) Continuous Fetal Monitor
E) Administer ephedrine per MD order
Ans: Place her in lateral position, & increase IV fluids. If no improvement may
need to give epi to increase vascular tone.
QUESTION>>>> Define maternal hypertension (gestational).
Ans: systolic BP >= 140mm hg, a diastolic BP>= 90 mm hg or MAP of >=105
QUESTION>>>> What is the normal expected value for a term fetal HGB?
Ans: 17g/dl, fetal hgb has a higher oxygen affinity than an adult to develop in
an oxygen poor environment. The fetal circulatory pattern ensures blood with
higher O2 and nutrition content is delivered to the vital organs (brain and
heart) to tolerate the stress of labor.
QUESTION>>>> detail the umbilical cord
Ans: 1 vein, 2 arteries encased in wharton's jelly.
O2 (high content) travels via the vein
Master01 | Dec, 2024/2025 | Latest update
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
Which contraction characteristics can be assessed with a tocodynamometer?
a) Frequency
b) Duration
c) Intensity
Ans: a) Frequency
b) Duration
QUESTION>>>> All Fetuses of mothers in labor experience an interruption of
the oxygenation pathway at which point?
Ans: Uterus
QUESTION>>>> The FHR can be monitored using doppler ultrasound?
a) Throughout labor and delivery unless the use of a more accurate method is
clearly indicated
b) Internally
c) Only early in labor
d) The FHR cannot be monitored by doppler ultrasound
Ans: a) Throughout labor and delivery unless the use of a more accurate
method is clearly indicated
QUESTION>>>> What is the normal range for FHR base line in a term infant?
a) 80-120 bpm
, 2
b) 110-160 bpm
c) 140-180bpm
d) it depends on the sex of the fetus
Ans: b) 110-160 bpm
QUESTION>>>> Trace the flow of oxygen from mother to fetus and back.
Ans: Mother's inhalation to lungs to mat. circulatory system to hemoglobin in
RBC's to bloodstream in uterus. Uterus to spiral arteries to placenta to
intervillous space to travel via simple diffusion into the villi. The capillaries to
the umb. vein to the fetus.
The umb. artery sends waste (CO2) to the intervillous space to the mothers
venous system.
QUESTION>>>> What factors impact maternal oxygen delivery?
Ans: 1. Mother (blood plasma, cardiac output, hemoglobin concentration & O2
saturation)
2. Placenta/intervillous space (uterine contractions & calcification's)
3. Fetus (vagal response aka decel or cord compression)
QUESTION>>>> By what % does maternal cardiac output increase above the
non-pregnant state and what position helps this uteroplacental blood flow?
Ans: 30-50%
lateral recumbent or semi-Fowler's
Master01 | Dec, 2024/2025 | Latest update
, 3
QUESTION>>>> Define tachysystole contractions and the cause of.
Ans: >5 contractions in 10 min (more frequently than Q 2 min) averaged over
30 min window.
Caused by oxytocin, aminoinfusion or in rare cases spontaneously.
QUESTION>>>> List interventions for tachysystole contractions.
Ans: Maintaining mat. volume, mat. positioning, intravenous hydration.
Decreasing mat. pain/anxiety.
1. Reposition pt to side.
2. Admin IV fluid bolus.
3. Admin 0.25mg terbutaline SQ.
4. Admin O2 10L via non rebreather face mask.
QUESTION>>>> Describe passive diffusion as related to the maternal placental
fetal system.
Ans: higher conc. to lower concentration.
1.Oxygen from maternal (higher) to fetal compartment (lower) to fetal hgb
then transported to fetal tissue.
2. CO2 returns to intervillous space by passive diffusion and is removed by the
mat. venous system.
Master01 | Dec, 2024/2025 | Latest update
, 4
QUESTION>>>> Maternal hypotension is a potential side effect of regional
anesthesia and analgesia. What nursing interventions could you use to raise the
client's blood pressure? Choose all that apply.
A) Place the woman in a supine position.
B) Place the woman in a lateral position.
C) Increase intravenous (IV) fluids.
D) Continuous Fetal Monitor
E) Administer ephedrine per MD order
Ans: Place her in lateral position, & increase IV fluids. If no improvement may
need to give epi to increase vascular tone.
QUESTION>>>> Define maternal hypertension (gestational).
Ans: systolic BP >= 140mm hg, a diastolic BP>= 90 mm hg or MAP of >=105
QUESTION>>>> What is the normal expected value for a term fetal HGB?
Ans: 17g/dl, fetal hgb has a higher oxygen affinity than an adult to develop in
an oxygen poor environment. The fetal circulatory pattern ensures blood with
higher O2 and nutrition content is delivered to the vital organs (brain and
heart) to tolerate the stress of labor.
QUESTION>>>> detail the umbilical cord
Ans: 1 vein, 2 arteries encased in wharton's jelly.
O2 (high content) travels via the vein
Master01 | Dec, 2024/2025 | Latest update
