,NSG 432 Exam 3 Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family Questions
And Answers 2026/2027 Grand canyon university
Q1. Which change is expected during normal uterine involution after
birth?
A) The uterus gradually decreases in size and descends into the pelvis.
B) The uterus remains at the umbilicus for six weeks.
C) The uterus increases in size during the first postpartum week.
D) The uterus immediately returns to its prepregnancy size.
Correct Answer: A) The uterus gradually decreases in size and descends into
the pelvis.
Rationale: Uterine involution begins after placental delivery. The uterus
contracts and progressively decreases in size until it returns toward its
nonpregnant state.
Q2. Which characteristic of lochia is expected during the first
several days after birth?
A) Whitish-yellow drainage
B) Bright-red drainage containing blood
C) Green drainage with a foul odor
D) Complete absence of vaginal discharge
Correct Answer: B) Bright-red drainage containing blood
Rationale: Lochia rubra is the first stage of postpartum discharge and is
normally red because it contains blood and tissue from the placental site.
Q3. Which finding best describes lochia serosa?
A) Bright-red discharge during the first hours after birth
B) Purulent discharge caused by infection
C) Pinkish or brownish discharge occurring after lochia rubra
D) Whitish-yellow discharge beginning immediately after birth
Correct Answer: C) Pinkish or brownish discharge occurring after lochia rubra
Rationale: Lochia serosa follows lochia rubra and is typically pink or brown
because the amount of blood decreases and serous fluid, leukocytes, and
mucus become more prominent.
Q4. Which finding would be most concerning in a postpartum client?
,A) Mild afterpains while breastfeeding
B) Lochia becoming progressively lighter
C) A firm fundus at or near the expected level
D) Heavy bleeding accompanied by tachycardia and dizziness
Correct Answer: D) Heavy bleeding accompanied by tachycardia and
dizziness
Rationale: Heavy bleeding with signs of hypovolemia may indicate
postpartum hemorrhage and requires immediate evaluation and
intervention.
Q5. Why does breastfeeding often increase postpartum uterine
cramping?
A) Nipple stimulation promotes oxytocin release.
B) Breastfeeding suppresses all uterine activity.
C) Prolactin directly causes cervical dilation.
D) Milk production causes placental separation.
Correct Answer: A) Nipple stimulation promotes oxytocin release.
Rationale: Suckling stimulates endogenous oxytocin release, which
promotes uterine contraction and can intensify postpartum afterpains.
Q6. Which finding is most consistent with a boggy postpartum
fundus?
A) A uterus that is firm and midline
B) A uterus that is soft and poorly contracted
C) A uterus that is no longer palpable
D) A uterus that is rigid with no bleeding
Correct Answer: B) A uterus that is soft and poorly contracted
Rationale: A boggy fundus indicates inadequate uterine contraction,
commonly called uterine atony, which is a major cause of postpartum
hemorrhage.
Q7. A postpartum client has a boggy uterus and heavy vaginal
bleeding. What is the priority nursing intervention?
A) Encourage ambulation.
B) Massage the fundus and assess the response.
C) Place the client flat and leave the room.
D) Delay intervention until laboratory results return.
, Correct Answer: B) Massage the fundus and assess the response.
Rationale: Fundal massage stimulates uterine contraction and can reduce
bleeding associated with uterine atony.
Q8. Which finding is expected in an uncomplicated postpartum
client?
A) Gradually decreasing lochia
B) Persistent heavy bright-red bleeding for six weeks
C) Foul-smelling lochia
D) Severe abdominal tenderness with fever
Correct Answer: A) Gradually decreasing lochia
Rationale: Lochia normally progresses from rubra to serosa to alba,
becoming lighter and decreasing in amount over the postpartum period.
Q9. Which postpartum assessment finding should the nurse report
promptly?
A) Mild uterine cramping during breastfeeding
B) Foul-smelling vaginal discharge with fever
C) Mild perineal discomfort
D) Slight breast fullness
Correct Answer: B) Foul-smelling vaginal discharge with fever
Rationale: Fever and malodorous lochia can indicate postpartum uterine
infection such as endometritis.
Q10. Which finding is most consistent with postpartum hemorrhage?
A) Mild fatigue with stable vital signs
B) Lochia alba several weeks after birth
C) Tachycardia, hypotension, pallor, and heavy bleeding
D) Mild uterine cramping
Correct Answer: C) Tachycardia, hypotension, pallor, and heavy bleeding
Rationale: Significant postpartum blood loss can produce hypovolemia with
tachycardia, hypotension, pallor, dizziness, and altered mental status.
Q11. Which medication is commonly used to promote uterine
contraction when uterine atony causes postpartum bleeding?
And Answers 2026/2027 Grand canyon university
Q1. Which change is expected during normal uterine involution after
birth?
A) The uterus gradually decreases in size and descends into the pelvis.
B) The uterus remains at the umbilicus for six weeks.
C) The uterus increases in size during the first postpartum week.
D) The uterus immediately returns to its prepregnancy size.
Correct Answer: A) The uterus gradually decreases in size and descends into
the pelvis.
Rationale: Uterine involution begins after placental delivery. The uterus
contracts and progressively decreases in size until it returns toward its
nonpregnant state.
Q2. Which characteristic of lochia is expected during the first
several days after birth?
A) Whitish-yellow drainage
B) Bright-red drainage containing blood
C) Green drainage with a foul odor
D) Complete absence of vaginal discharge
Correct Answer: B) Bright-red drainage containing blood
Rationale: Lochia rubra is the first stage of postpartum discharge and is
normally red because it contains blood and tissue from the placental site.
Q3. Which finding best describes lochia serosa?
A) Bright-red discharge during the first hours after birth
B) Purulent discharge caused by infection
C) Pinkish or brownish discharge occurring after lochia rubra
D) Whitish-yellow discharge beginning immediately after birth
Correct Answer: C) Pinkish or brownish discharge occurring after lochia rubra
Rationale: Lochia serosa follows lochia rubra and is typically pink or brown
because the amount of blood decreases and serous fluid, leukocytes, and
mucus become more prominent.
Q4. Which finding would be most concerning in a postpartum client?
,A) Mild afterpains while breastfeeding
B) Lochia becoming progressively lighter
C) A firm fundus at or near the expected level
D) Heavy bleeding accompanied by tachycardia and dizziness
Correct Answer: D) Heavy bleeding accompanied by tachycardia and
dizziness
Rationale: Heavy bleeding with signs of hypovolemia may indicate
postpartum hemorrhage and requires immediate evaluation and
intervention.
Q5. Why does breastfeeding often increase postpartum uterine
cramping?
A) Nipple stimulation promotes oxytocin release.
B) Breastfeeding suppresses all uterine activity.
C) Prolactin directly causes cervical dilation.
D) Milk production causes placental separation.
Correct Answer: A) Nipple stimulation promotes oxytocin release.
Rationale: Suckling stimulates endogenous oxytocin release, which
promotes uterine contraction and can intensify postpartum afterpains.
Q6. Which finding is most consistent with a boggy postpartum
fundus?
A) A uterus that is firm and midline
B) A uterus that is soft and poorly contracted
C) A uterus that is no longer palpable
D) A uterus that is rigid with no bleeding
Correct Answer: B) A uterus that is soft and poorly contracted
Rationale: A boggy fundus indicates inadequate uterine contraction,
commonly called uterine atony, which is a major cause of postpartum
hemorrhage.
Q7. A postpartum client has a boggy uterus and heavy vaginal
bleeding. What is the priority nursing intervention?
A) Encourage ambulation.
B) Massage the fundus and assess the response.
C) Place the client flat and leave the room.
D) Delay intervention until laboratory results return.
, Correct Answer: B) Massage the fundus and assess the response.
Rationale: Fundal massage stimulates uterine contraction and can reduce
bleeding associated with uterine atony.
Q8. Which finding is expected in an uncomplicated postpartum
client?
A) Gradually decreasing lochia
B) Persistent heavy bright-red bleeding for six weeks
C) Foul-smelling lochia
D) Severe abdominal tenderness with fever
Correct Answer: A) Gradually decreasing lochia
Rationale: Lochia normally progresses from rubra to serosa to alba,
becoming lighter and decreasing in amount over the postpartum period.
Q9. Which postpartum assessment finding should the nurse report
promptly?
A) Mild uterine cramping during breastfeeding
B) Foul-smelling vaginal discharge with fever
C) Mild perineal discomfort
D) Slight breast fullness
Correct Answer: B) Foul-smelling vaginal discharge with fever
Rationale: Fever and malodorous lochia can indicate postpartum uterine
infection such as endometritis.
Q10. Which finding is most consistent with postpartum hemorrhage?
A) Mild fatigue with stable vital signs
B) Lochia alba several weeks after birth
C) Tachycardia, hypotension, pallor, and heavy bleeding
D) Mild uterine cramping
Correct Answer: C) Tachycardia, hypotension, pallor, and heavy bleeding
Rationale: Significant postpartum blood loss can produce hypovolemia with
tachycardia, hypotension, pallor, dizziness, and altered mental status.
Q11. Which medication is commonly used to promote uterine
contraction when uterine atony causes postpartum bleeding?
