MIDWIFERY COMPREHENSIVE EXAM – NEWEST
2026 EDITION | ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS,
VERIFIED CORRECT ANSWERS & EXPERT
RATIONALES | COMPLETE SUCCESS STUDY GUIDE |
INSTANT PDF DOWNLOAD
1. A primigravida at 39 weeks is admitted in early labour. She asks the midwife to explain the
three phases of the first stage. What are the correct phases with their cervical dilation ranges?
A. Latent 02cm, Active 26cm, Transitional 610cm
B. Latent 04cm, Active 48cm, Transitional 810cm
C. Latent 03cm, Active 37cm, Transitional 710cm
D. Latent 05cm, Active 59cm, Transitional 910cm
✓ Correct answer: B. Latent 04cm, Active 48cm, Transitional 810cm.
✓ Rationale: The first stage of labour consists of latent phase (04cm with irregular
contractions), active phase (48cm with regular contractions 25 min apart), and
transitional phase (810cm with possible brief lull in contractions).
2. A midwife is explaining fertilisation to a student. In which specific anatomical location does
fertilisation normally occur?
A. Infundibulum of the uterine tube
B. Isthmus of the uterine tube
C. Ampulla of the uterine tube
D. Interstitial portion of the uterine tube
✓ Correct answer: C. Ampulla of the uterine tube.
✓ Rationale: The ampulla is the widest and longest portion of the uterine tube and is the
typical site where sperm meets the ovum for fertilisation.
3. A woman in labour requests diamorphine for pain relief. What is the correct dosage and route
of administration?
A. 24mg intravenously, 2 hourly
B. 510mg intramuscularly, 4 hourly
C. 1015mg subcutaneously, 6 hourly
D. 12mg epidurally, 8 hourly
✓ Correct answer: B. 510mg intramuscularly, 4 hourly.
✓ Rationale: Diamorphine is given at a dosage of 510mg depending on patient size,
administered intramuscularly, and can be repeated every 4 hours.
4. A pregnant woman reports craving laundry starch and clay soil. What is the correct medical
term for this behaviour?
A. Hyperemesis
B. Pica
C. Perverted appetite
,D. Dysgeusia
✓ Correct answer: B. Pica.
✓ Rationale: Pica is the craving and consumption of nonfood items such as clay, soap, coal,
or laundry starch, sometimes seen in pregnancy.
5. A midwife is scheduling a nuchal translucency scan. Between which gestational ages should
this scan be performed and what is its primary purpose?
A. 810 weeks to confirm viability
B. 11+2 to 14+1 weeks to check fluid at back of neck for Down's syndrome indicator
C. 1618 weeks to assess placental position
D. 2022 weeks to check for structural anomalies
✓ Correct answer: B. 11+2 to 14+1 weeks to check fluid at back of neck for Down's
syndrome indicator.
✓ Rationale: Nuchal translucency scan measures fluid at the back of the fetal neck between
11+2 and 14+1 weeks as a screening marker for Down's syndrome.
6. During a labour review, a midwife notes a woman is having 6 contractions in 10 minutes.
What is the correct term for this finding in spontaneous labour?
A. Hypertonicity
B. Tachysystole
C. Hyperstimulation
D. Polysystole
✓ Correct answer: B. Tachysystole.
✓ Rationale: Tachysystole is defined as more than 5 contractions in 10 minutes occurring in
spontaneous labour; hyperstimulation is the term for induced labour.
7. A woman's pulse is recorded as 115 beats per minute during the active phase of labour. What is
the correct term for this finding?
A. Bradycardia
B. Tachycardia
C. Normocardia
D. Palpitation
✓ Correct answer: B. Tachycardia.
✓ Rationale: Tachycardia is defined as a maternal pulse rate exceeding 100 beats per
minute.
8. A midwife is teaching a antenatal class about nonpharmacological pain relief. Which of the
following is NOT considered a nonpharmacological method of pain relief in labour?
A. Water immersion
B. TENS machine
C. Pethidine injection
D. Massage and breathing techniques
✓ Correct answer: C. Pethidine injection.
✓ Rationale: Pethidine is a pharmacological (opioid) analgesic; water, TENS, massage,
aromatherapy, and breathing techniques are nonpharmacological methods.
,9. A student midwife is studying maternal physiological changes in pregnancy. Which statement
correctly describes a change in the maternal respiratory system during pregnancy?
A. Oxygen consumption decreases by 2030%
B. Tidal volume decreases by 3040%
C. Oxygen consumption increases by up to 2030%
D. Rib cage contracts and becomes smaller
✓ Correct answer: C. Oxygen consumption increases by up to 2030%.
✓ Rationale: During pregnancy, oxygen consumption increases by 2030%, tidal volume
increases by 3040%, and the rib cage expands to accommodate these changes.
10. A placenta is described as having the umbilical cord inserted on the edge rather than
centrally. What is the correct term for this abnormality?
A. Velamentous insertion
B. Succenturiate lobe
C. Battledore insertion
D. Circumvallate placenta
✓ Correct answer: C. Battledore insertion.
✓ Rationale: Battledore insertion refers to the umbilical cord inserted at the edge of the
placenta rather than centrally; velamentous is through membranes, succenturiate is an
accessory lobe.
11. A zygote undergoes mitotic cellular division. What is the correct name for the zygote at day 3
after fertilisation?
A. Blastomere
B. Morula
C. Blastocyst
D. Trophoblast
✓ Correct answer: B. Morula.
✓ Rationale: On day 1 the zygote is called a blastomere, day 3 forms a morula (solid ball of
cells), and day 4 becomes a blastocyst (hollow ball with inner cell mass).
12. A student is learning about embryonic germ layers. Which germ layer develops into the
nervous system and epidermis of the skin?
A. Endoderm
B. Mesoderm
C. Ectoderm
D. Trophoderm
✓ Correct answer: C. Ectoderm.
✓ Rationale: Ectoderm develops into the nervous system, epidermis of skin, hair, and nails;
mesoderm forms muscle and skeleton; endoderm forms epithelial linings.
13. A woman in labour requests meptid for pain relief. What is the correct dosage and
administration route for meptid?
A. 2550mg intravenously, 2 hourly
B. 75150mg intramuscularly, 24 hourly
C. 1020mg subcutaneously, 6 hourly
, D. 150200mg orally, 4 hourly
✓ Correct answer: B. 75150mg intramuscularly, 24 hourly.
✓ Rationale: Meptid (pethidine alternative) is given at a dosage of 75150mg
intramuscularly and can be repeated every 24 hours as needed.
14. Haemoglobin is broken down into several components after red blood cell destruction. Which
component is fatsoluble, toxic, and causes yellow discolouration of the skin?
A. Iron
B. Globin
C. Unconjugated bilirubin
D. Conjugated bilirubin
✓ Correct answer: C. Unconjugated bilirubin.
✓ Rationale: Unconjugated bilirubin is fatsoluble, toxic, not easily excreted, and causes
yellow discolouration of skin and can deposit in the brain.
15. A midwife is teaching about pain physiology. Sensory receptors that respond specifically to
painful stimuli are called:
A. Chemoreceptors
B. Mechanoreceptors
C. Nocioceptors
D. Baroreceptors
✓ Correct answer: C. Nocioceptors.
✓ Rationale: Nocioceptors are specialised sensory receptors that respond to painful stimuli
(noxious stimuli) and transmit signals to the central nervous system.
16. A midwife performs a vaginal examination. Which of the following should be assessed as
part of this examination?
A. Only cervical dilation and effacement
B. Labia, perineum, vagina, cervix, membranes, presenting part, station
C. Only fetal heart rate and maternal pulse
D. Only amniotic fluid volume and colour
✓ Correct answer: B. Labia, perineum, vagina, cervix, membranes, presenting part, station.
✓ Rationale: A complete vaginal examination assesses labia (varicosities, oedema),
perineum (scars, FGM), cervix (position, dilation, effacement), membranes, presenting
part, caput, moulding, and station.
17. The force of a contraction transmitted down the upper pole of the fetus and down the long
axis onto the presenting part is known as:
A. Fundal dominance
B. Polarity
C. Fetal axis pressure
D. Retraction
✓ Correct answer: C. Fetal axis pressure.
✓ Rationale: Fetal axis pressure is the force of a contraction transmitted down the upper
pole of the fetus and along the long axis onto the presenting part, aiding descent.
2026 EDITION | ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS,
VERIFIED CORRECT ANSWERS & EXPERT
RATIONALES | COMPLETE SUCCESS STUDY GUIDE |
INSTANT PDF DOWNLOAD
1. A primigravida at 39 weeks is admitted in early labour. She asks the midwife to explain the
three phases of the first stage. What are the correct phases with their cervical dilation ranges?
A. Latent 02cm, Active 26cm, Transitional 610cm
B. Latent 04cm, Active 48cm, Transitional 810cm
C. Latent 03cm, Active 37cm, Transitional 710cm
D. Latent 05cm, Active 59cm, Transitional 910cm
✓ Correct answer: B. Latent 04cm, Active 48cm, Transitional 810cm.
✓ Rationale: The first stage of labour consists of latent phase (04cm with irregular
contractions), active phase (48cm with regular contractions 25 min apart), and
transitional phase (810cm with possible brief lull in contractions).
2. A midwife is explaining fertilisation to a student. In which specific anatomical location does
fertilisation normally occur?
A. Infundibulum of the uterine tube
B. Isthmus of the uterine tube
C. Ampulla of the uterine tube
D. Interstitial portion of the uterine tube
✓ Correct answer: C. Ampulla of the uterine tube.
✓ Rationale: The ampulla is the widest and longest portion of the uterine tube and is the
typical site where sperm meets the ovum for fertilisation.
3. A woman in labour requests diamorphine for pain relief. What is the correct dosage and route
of administration?
A. 24mg intravenously, 2 hourly
B. 510mg intramuscularly, 4 hourly
C. 1015mg subcutaneously, 6 hourly
D. 12mg epidurally, 8 hourly
✓ Correct answer: B. 510mg intramuscularly, 4 hourly.
✓ Rationale: Diamorphine is given at a dosage of 510mg depending on patient size,
administered intramuscularly, and can be repeated every 4 hours.
4. A pregnant woman reports craving laundry starch and clay soil. What is the correct medical
term for this behaviour?
A. Hyperemesis
B. Pica
C. Perverted appetite
,D. Dysgeusia
✓ Correct answer: B. Pica.
✓ Rationale: Pica is the craving and consumption of nonfood items such as clay, soap, coal,
or laundry starch, sometimes seen in pregnancy.
5. A midwife is scheduling a nuchal translucency scan. Between which gestational ages should
this scan be performed and what is its primary purpose?
A. 810 weeks to confirm viability
B. 11+2 to 14+1 weeks to check fluid at back of neck for Down's syndrome indicator
C. 1618 weeks to assess placental position
D. 2022 weeks to check for structural anomalies
✓ Correct answer: B. 11+2 to 14+1 weeks to check fluid at back of neck for Down's
syndrome indicator.
✓ Rationale: Nuchal translucency scan measures fluid at the back of the fetal neck between
11+2 and 14+1 weeks as a screening marker for Down's syndrome.
6. During a labour review, a midwife notes a woman is having 6 contractions in 10 minutes.
What is the correct term for this finding in spontaneous labour?
A. Hypertonicity
B. Tachysystole
C. Hyperstimulation
D. Polysystole
✓ Correct answer: B. Tachysystole.
✓ Rationale: Tachysystole is defined as more than 5 contractions in 10 minutes occurring in
spontaneous labour; hyperstimulation is the term for induced labour.
7. A woman's pulse is recorded as 115 beats per minute during the active phase of labour. What is
the correct term for this finding?
A. Bradycardia
B. Tachycardia
C. Normocardia
D. Palpitation
✓ Correct answer: B. Tachycardia.
✓ Rationale: Tachycardia is defined as a maternal pulse rate exceeding 100 beats per
minute.
8. A midwife is teaching a antenatal class about nonpharmacological pain relief. Which of the
following is NOT considered a nonpharmacological method of pain relief in labour?
A. Water immersion
B. TENS machine
C. Pethidine injection
D. Massage and breathing techniques
✓ Correct answer: C. Pethidine injection.
✓ Rationale: Pethidine is a pharmacological (opioid) analgesic; water, TENS, massage,
aromatherapy, and breathing techniques are nonpharmacological methods.
,9. A student midwife is studying maternal physiological changes in pregnancy. Which statement
correctly describes a change in the maternal respiratory system during pregnancy?
A. Oxygen consumption decreases by 2030%
B. Tidal volume decreases by 3040%
C. Oxygen consumption increases by up to 2030%
D. Rib cage contracts and becomes smaller
✓ Correct answer: C. Oxygen consumption increases by up to 2030%.
✓ Rationale: During pregnancy, oxygen consumption increases by 2030%, tidal volume
increases by 3040%, and the rib cage expands to accommodate these changes.
10. A placenta is described as having the umbilical cord inserted on the edge rather than
centrally. What is the correct term for this abnormality?
A. Velamentous insertion
B. Succenturiate lobe
C. Battledore insertion
D. Circumvallate placenta
✓ Correct answer: C. Battledore insertion.
✓ Rationale: Battledore insertion refers to the umbilical cord inserted at the edge of the
placenta rather than centrally; velamentous is through membranes, succenturiate is an
accessory lobe.
11. A zygote undergoes mitotic cellular division. What is the correct name for the zygote at day 3
after fertilisation?
A. Blastomere
B. Morula
C. Blastocyst
D. Trophoblast
✓ Correct answer: B. Morula.
✓ Rationale: On day 1 the zygote is called a blastomere, day 3 forms a morula (solid ball of
cells), and day 4 becomes a blastocyst (hollow ball with inner cell mass).
12. A student is learning about embryonic germ layers. Which germ layer develops into the
nervous system and epidermis of the skin?
A. Endoderm
B. Mesoderm
C. Ectoderm
D. Trophoderm
✓ Correct answer: C. Ectoderm.
✓ Rationale: Ectoderm develops into the nervous system, epidermis of skin, hair, and nails;
mesoderm forms muscle and skeleton; endoderm forms epithelial linings.
13. A woman in labour requests meptid for pain relief. What is the correct dosage and
administration route for meptid?
A. 2550mg intravenously, 2 hourly
B. 75150mg intramuscularly, 24 hourly
C. 1020mg subcutaneously, 6 hourly
, D. 150200mg orally, 4 hourly
✓ Correct answer: B. 75150mg intramuscularly, 24 hourly.
✓ Rationale: Meptid (pethidine alternative) is given at a dosage of 75150mg
intramuscularly and can be repeated every 24 hours as needed.
14. Haemoglobin is broken down into several components after red blood cell destruction. Which
component is fatsoluble, toxic, and causes yellow discolouration of the skin?
A. Iron
B. Globin
C. Unconjugated bilirubin
D. Conjugated bilirubin
✓ Correct answer: C. Unconjugated bilirubin.
✓ Rationale: Unconjugated bilirubin is fatsoluble, toxic, not easily excreted, and causes
yellow discolouration of skin and can deposit in the brain.
15. A midwife is teaching about pain physiology. Sensory receptors that respond specifically to
painful stimuli are called:
A. Chemoreceptors
B. Mechanoreceptors
C. Nocioceptors
D. Baroreceptors
✓ Correct answer: C. Nocioceptors.
✓ Rationale: Nocioceptors are specialised sensory receptors that respond to painful stimuli
(noxious stimuli) and transmit signals to the central nervous system.
16. A midwife performs a vaginal examination. Which of the following should be assessed as
part of this examination?
A. Only cervical dilation and effacement
B. Labia, perineum, vagina, cervix, membranes, presenting part, station
C. Only fetal heart rate and maternal pulse
D. Only amniotic fluid volume and colour
✓ Correct answer: B. Labia, perineum, vagina, cervix, membranes, presenting part, station.
✓ Rationale: A complete vaginal examination assesses labia (varicosities, oedema),
perineum (scars, FGM), cervix (position, dilation, effacement), membranes, presenting
part, caput, moulding, and station.
17. The force of a contraction transmitted down the upper pole of the fetus and down the long
axis onto the presenting part is known as:
A. Fundal dominance
B. Polarity
C. Fetal axis pressure
D. Retraction
✓ Correct answer: C. Fetal axis pressure.
✓ Rationale: Fetal axis pressure is the force of a contraction transmitted down the upper
pole of the fetus and along the long axis onto the presenting part, aiding descent.
