Childbearing Family Q&A | Maternal-Child Nursing
1. Which of the following best describes the scope of maternity nursing?
A) Care provided only during the intrapartum period from labor onset
through birth
B) Care of childbearing women and their families from preconception through
the postpartum period
C) Care focused exclusively on the newborn infant during the first 28 days of
life
D) Care provided only to high-risk pregnant women in hospital settings
Correct Answer: Care of childbearing women and their families from
preconception through the postpartum period
Rationale: Maternity nursing encompasses care of childbearing women and
their families across the continuum from preconception, through prenatal
(antepartum), labor and birth (intrapartum), and the postpartum period. It
includes both normal and high-risk populations across various settings.
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2. A nurse is reviewing the definitions of pregnancy terms. A pregnancy that
ends between 39 weeks 0 days and 40 weeks 6 days is classified as:
A) Early term
B) Full term
C) Late term
D) Post term
Correct Answer: Full term
,Rationale: Full term is defined as 39 weeks 0 days to 40 weeks 6 days of
gestation. Early term is 37 weeks 0 days to 38 weeks 6 days. Late term is 41
weeks 0 days to 41 weeks 6 days, and post term is 42 weeks and beyond.
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3. A nurse is calculating a patient's GTPAL. The patient is pregnant with
twins, has one living child from a prior term birth, and had one spontaneous
abortion at 10 weeks. What is the correct GTPAL for this patient?
A) G3, T1, P0, A1, L1
B) G3, T1, P1, A1, L1
C) G2, T1, P0, A1, L1
D) G4, T1, P1, A0, L2
Correct Answer: G3, T1, P1, A1, L1
Rationale: GTPAL stands for Gravida (total number of pregnancies), Term
births (≥37 weeks), Preterm births (20-37 weeks), Abortions (<20 weeks),
and Living children. This patient is G3 (current pregnancy + prior term +
abortion), T1 (one term birth), P1 (one preterm birth? No—twins are counted
as one pregnancy for G but multiple births for P and L; the prior abortion is
A1), L1 (one living child). The G is 3.
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4. A nurse is providing preconception counseling to a woman planning
pregnancy. Which recommendation should the nurse prioritize?
A) Begin prenatal vitamins with folic acid at least 1 month before conception
B) Schedule the first prenatal visit after 12 weeks of gestation
C) Discontinue all physical activity during the preconception period
,D) Increase caffeine intake to improve fertility
Correct Answer: Begin prenatal vitamins with folic acid at least 1 month
before conception
Rationale: Preconception care includes taking folic acid supplements (400-
800 mcg daily) at least 1 month before conception to reduce the risk of
neural tube defects. Prenatal care should ideally begin before conception,
not delayed until 12 weeks.
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5. A nurse is assessing a patient's menstrual cycle. Which hormone is
responsible for preparing the uterus for implantation?
A) Estrogen
B) Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
C) Luteinizing hormone (LH)
D) Progesterone
Correct Answer: Progesterone
Rationale: Progesterone prepares the uterine lining (endometrium) for
implantation of a fertilized ovum. If implantation does not occur,
progesterone levels drop, and the lining is shed during menstruation.
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6. A woman reports that her last menstrual period (LMP) began on January
30. Using Nägele's rule, what is her estimated date of delivery (EDD)?
, A) October 7
B) October 30
C) November 6
D) November 30
Correct Answer: November 6
Rationale: Nägele's rule calculates the estimated date of delivery by adding
7 days to the first day of the last menstrual period and counting backward 3
months (or forward 9 months). January 30 + 7 days = February 6; moving
forward 9 months gives November 6.
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7. A nurse is assessing a patient for signs of pregnancy. Which finding is
considered a presumptive sign of pregnancy?
A) Chadwick's sign
B) Goodell's sign
C) Breast tenderness and amenorrhea
D) Fetal heart tones audible by Doppler
Correct Answer: Breast tenderness and amenorrhea
Rationale: Presumptive signs of pregnancy are subjective changes felt by the
woman, including breast changes, amenorrhea (absence of menses), nausea
and vomiting, urinary frequency, fatigue, and quickening. These signs are not
definitive for pregnancy.
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