BSNC 5000OB Final Exam Questions with
Correct Answers
Describe the psychosocial adaptation to pregnancy for mother, partner, sibling(s) and
other caregivers
Maternal/paternal adaptation: accepting the pregnancy → identifying with the mother/father
role → reordering personal relationships → establishing a relationship with the fetus →
preparing for childbirth
Sibling adaptation: concerns about losing their place in the family hierarchy
Other caregivers: grandparents can act as a family historian, experienced caregivers can act as
resource persons who share knowledge, any caregivers can provide support to strengthen the
family system and widen the circle of nurturance
Describe the stages of a healthy pregnancy and normal growth and development.
Ovum/pre-embryonic: conception until day 14
- Covers cellular replication, blastocyst formation, initial development of the embryonic
membranes, and establishment of the primary germ layer
Embryo: day 15 until 8 weeks after conception
- Most critical time in the development of the organ systems and the main external features.
Developing areas with rapid cell division are the most vulnerable areas to malformation
caused by environmental teratogens
Membranes, amniotic fluid, yolk sac, umbilical cord, placenta
Fetus: 9 weeks until pregnancy ends
- Refinement of structure until fetus reaches viability
,Teratogens
Something that is going to affect the anatomical or the physiological development of the
embryo during the embryonic stage and/or the fetus during the fetal stage
It can cause the termination of the pregnancy before it even happens (depends on type of
teratogen and severity of exposure, typically occurs during early days of pregnancy)
Examples: alcohol and tobacco products; environmental toxins, chemicals, radiation; some
prescription medications; maternal medical conditions; infections (TORCH)
Causes of developmental malformations
20-25%: genetic anomalies
5%: environmental factors (intrauterine infections, maternal metabolic disorders,
environmental chemicals, drugs, medications, radiation, etc.)
65-75%: multifactorial or unknown (ex. genetic + environmental)
When is exposure to teratogens most severe
week 5 (embryonic period, weeks 3 to 8) as this is when all organ systems are being laid
down
prior to embryonic period, there are no organ systems developing yet (just cellular division),
so there are no structural defects (however exposure can prevent implantation to uterine wall)
List TORCH infections
,Toxoplasmosis
Other symptoms such as syphilis, parvovirus, and Hep B
Rubella
Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
Herpes simplex virus (HSV)
Modes of transmission of TORCH infections
VERTICAL TRANSMISSION (mother to baby in utero):
- transplacental transmission (maternal circulation --> placenta --> fetal blood supply) (all
except Hep B)
- contact with cervical or vaginal secretion during birthing process (syphilis, CMV, HSV,
Hep B)
- By breastmilk in premature and IUGR infants (CMV)
- During c-section where child is exposed to blood
Toxoplasmosis
a parasite acquired through undercooked meat or spores from cat litter
treatment helps prevent passage through placenta, reducing rate of infection by up to 60%
Often causes hearing loss
Syphilis
, bacterium
can cause hydrops fetalis
if mom is not treated: still birth 25%, neonatal death 14%, congenital syphilis 41%
if syphilis during pregnancy is untreated, 70-100% of neonates born will have symptomatic
congenital syphilis (hydropic and anemia with enlarged liver and spleen), with fetal demise
occuring in 40% of these pregnancies
Parvovirus B19
Virus
vertical transmission rate of 25-50%
Can cause hydrops fetalis, 13% spontaneous loss before 20 weeks gestation
transplacental transmission is approximately 30% and fetal death occurs in about 9% of those
affected
Hepatitis B
Virus
Too large to cross placenta, infection occurs via microtransfusion during labour, SVD or C-
section (contact with infectious secretions), 70-90% of time
Correct Answers
Describe the psychosocial adaptation to pregnancy for mother, partner, sibling(s) and
other caregivers
Maternal/paternal adaptation: accepting the pregnancy → identifying with the mother/father
role → reordering personal relationships → establishing a relationship with the fetus →
preparing for childbirth
Sibling adaptation: concerns about losing their place in the family hierarchy
Other caregivers: grandparents can act as a family historian, experienced caregivers can act as
resource persons who share knowledge, any caregivers can provide support to strengthen the
family system and widen the circle of nurturance
Describe the stages of a healthy pregnancy and normal growth and development.
Ovum/pre-embryonic: conception until day 14
- Covers cellular replication, blastocyst formation, initial development of the embryonic
membranes, and establishment of the primary germ layer
Embryo: day 15 until 8 weeks after conception
- Most critical time in the development of the organ systems and the main external features.
Developing areas with rapid cell division are the most vulnerable areas to malformation
caused by environmental teratogens
Membranes, amniotic fluid, yolk sac, umbilical cord, placenta
Fetus: 9 weeks until pregnancy ends
- Refinement of structure until fetus reaches viability
,Teratogens
Something that is going to affect the anatomical or the physiological development of the
embryo during the embryonic stage and/or the fetus during the fetal stage
It can cause the termination of the pregnancy before it even happens (depends on type of
teratogen and severity of exposure, typically occurs during early days of pregnancy)
Examples: alcohol and tobacco products; environmental toxins, chemicals, radiation; some
prescription medications; maternal medical conditions; infections (TORCH)
Causes of developmental malformations
20-25%: genetic anomalies
5%: environmental factors (intrauterine infections, maternal metabolic disorders,
environmental chemicals, drugs, medications, radiation, etc.)
65-75%: multifactorial or unknown (ex. genetic + environmental)
When is exposure to teratogens most severe
week 5 (embryonic period, weeks 3 to 8) as this is when all organ systems are being laid
down
prior to embryonic period, there are no organ systems developing yet (just cellular division),
so there are no structural defects (however exposure can prevent implantation to uterine wall)
List TORCH infections
,Toxoplasmosis
Other symptoms such as syphilis, parvovirus, and Hep B
Rubella
Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
Herpes simplex virus (HSV)
Modes of transmission of TORCH infections
VERTICAL TRANSMISSION (mother to baby in utero):
- transplacental transmission (maternal circulation --> placenta --> fetal blood supply) (all
except Hep B)
- contact with cervical or vaginal secretion during birthing process (syphilis, CMV, HSV,
Hep B)
- By breastmilk in premature and IUGR infants (CMV)
- During c-section where child is exposed to blood
Toxoplasmosis
a parasite acquired through undercooked meat or spores from cat litter
treatment helps prevent passage through placenta, reducing rate of infection by up to 60%
Often causes hearing loss
Syphilis
, bacterium
can cause hydrops fetalis
if mom is not treated: still birth 25%, neonatal death 14%, congenital syphilis 41%
if syphilis during pregnancy is untreated, 70-100% of neonates born will have symptomatic
congenital syphilis (hydropic and anemia with enlarged liver and spleen), with fetal demise
occuring in 40% of these pregnancies
Parvovirus B19
Virus
vertical transmission rate of 25-50%
Can cause hydrops fetalis, 13% spontaneous loss before 20 weeks gestation
transplacental transmission is approximately 30% and fetal death occurs in about 9% of those
affected
Hepatitis B
Virus
Too large to cross placenta, infection occurs via microtransfusion during labour, SVD or C-
section (contact with infectious secretions), 70-90% of time
