AWHONN ADVANCED FETAL HEART
MONITORING EXAMPREP STUDY GUIDE
2026 DETAILED QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED A+
●● Severe astha, cardiac issues, and ecclampic seizures. Answer: What
maternal conditions greatly impact fetal oxygenation?
●● intervillous space. Answer: Where does the exchange of O2 and
nutrients take place?
●● O2 enters the intervillous space via the maternal arteries, to the villi
then the umbilical vein take the o2 blood to the fetus. The umbilical
arteries take the deO2 blood from the baby through the villi and back to
the mother. Answer: How is o2 blood transferred to the fetus?
●● High to low concentration
Mom to fetus for O2
Low to high concentration for CO2 so baby to mom. Answer: Diffusion
●● Diffusion. Answer: How is O2 transferred from mom to baby
●● Carry O2 into intervillous space
,Are maximally dilated so they can not be increased. Answer: Explain
spiral arteries in placenta
●● Maternal conditions like pre-e and cardiac disease
Maternal hypotension
Placental changes- abruptions, infections, edema, or smaller size
Excessive uterine activity
Vasoconstriction. Answer: What are factors that can decrease
uteroplacental blood flow?
●● They are constricted which decreases blood flow. Answer: What
happens to the spiral arteries during pre-e?
●● The aorta and vena cava get compressed (20 weeks). Answer: Why
does the supine position cause decreased uteroplactenal blood flow?
●● Blocks the sympathetic pathway
Pooling of blood in the lower extremities decreases blood flow back to
moms heart which decreases blood flow to the fetus. Answer: Why does
maternal hypotension happen after regional analgesia?
●● 60%. Answer: What percentage is uteroplacental blood flow
decreased by during cxts?
, ●● Environment to lungs to heart to vasculature to uterus to placenta to
umbilical cord. Answer: Explain the pathway for maternal- fetal
exchange for fetal oxygenation (basic)
●● Limbs, kidneys, and descending aorta. Answer: Where is the least O2
blood in the fetus?
●● Umbilical vein and ductous venous. Answer: Where is the most O2
blood in the fetus?
●● Ductus venosus. Answer: Connects the umbilical vein to the inferior
vena cava, bypassing the liver
Shunt that allows most O2 blood to fetal heart
●● ductus venosus, foramen ovale, ductus arteriosus. Answer: 3
important shunts in fetal circulation
●● Foramen Ovale. Answer: connects the two atria in the fetal heart
Allows O2 blood to flow through the heart and directly to the brain
●● Ductus Arteriosus. Answer: a blood vessel in a fetus that bypasses
pulmonary circulation by connecting the pulmonary artery directly to the
ascending aorta
MONITORING EXAMPREP STUDY GUIDE
2026 DETAILED QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED A+
●● Severe astha, cardiac issues, and ecclampic seizures. Answer: What
maternal conditions greatly impact fetal oxygenation?
●● intervillous space. Answer: Where does the exchange of O2 and
nutrients take place?
●● O2 enters the intervillous space via the maternal arteries, to the villi
then the umbilical vein take the o2 blood to the fetus. The umbilical
arteries take the deO2 blood from the baby through the villi and back to
the mother. Answer: How is o2 blood transferred to the fetus?
●● High to low concentration
Mom to fetus for O2
Low to high concentration for CO2 so baby to mom. Answer: Diffusion
●● Diffusion. Answer: How is O2 transferred from mom to baby
●● Carry O2 into intervillous space
,Are maximally dilated so they can not be increased. Answer: Explain
spiral arteries in placenta
●● Maternal conditions like pre-e and cardiac disease
Maternal hypotension
Placental changes- abruptions, infections, edema, or smaller size
Excessive uterine activity
Vasoconstriction. Answer: What are factors that can decrease
uteroplacental blood flow?
●● They are constricted which decreases blood flow. Answer: What
happens to the spiral arteries during pre-e?
●● The aorta and vena cava get compressed (20 weeks). Answer: Why
does the supine position cause decreased uteroplactenal blood flow?
●● Blocks the sympathetic pathway
Pooling of blood in the lower extremities decreases blood flow back to
moms heart which decreases blood flow to the fetus. Answer: Why does
maternal hypotension happen after regional analgesia?
●● 60%. Answer: What percentage is uteroplacental blood flow
decreased by during cxts?
, ●● Environment to lungs to heart to vasculature to uterus to placenta to
umbilical cord. Answer: Explain the pathway for maternal- fetal
exchange for fetal oxygenation (basic)
●● Limbs, kidneys, and descending aorta. Answer: Where is the least O2
blood in the fetus?
●● Umbilical vein and ductous venous. Answer: Where is the most O2
blood in the fetus?
●● Ductus venosus. Answer: Connects the umbilical vein to the inferior
vena cava, bypassing the liver
Shunt that allows most O2 blood to fetal heart
●● ductus venosus, foramen ovale, ductus arteriosus. Answer: 3
important shunts in fetal circulation
●● Foramen Ovale. Answer: connects the two atria in the fetal heart
Allows O2 blood to flow through the heart and directly to the brain
●● Ductus Arteriosus. Answer: a blood vessel in a fetus that bypasses
pulmonary circulation by connecting the pulmonary artery directly to the
ascending aorta
