Chapter 27: Labor and Delivery
Cooper: Foundation of Nursing
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A woman who is 38 weeks’ pregnant tells the nurse that the baby has dropped and she is
having urinary frequency again. What do these symptoms describe?
a. Lightening
b. Braxton-Hicks contractions
c. Initiation of labor
d. Engagement
ANS: A
The symptoms of lightening are a return of urinary frequency, and the patient is able to
breathe more normally.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 798 OBJ: 3
TOP: Lightening KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
2. How do Braxton-Hicks contractions differ from labor contractions?
a. Last several minutes.
b. Are always regular.
c. Do not dilate the cervix.
d. Are only mild.
ANS: C
Braxton-Hicks contractions do not dilate the cervix. Braxton-Hicks contractions remain
irregular, can range from mild to moderate in severity, and increase in duration as the
pregnancy progresses.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 799 OBJ: 4
TOP: Braxton-Hicks contractions KEY: Nursing Process Step: N/A
MSC: NCLEX: N/A
3. The nurse is trying to differentiate true labor from false labor. Which of the following is
correct regarding true labor?
a. Discomfort of the contraction is in the fundus.
b. Contractions do not follow a pattern.
c. Contractions get stronger with ambulation.
d. Contractions may stop with ambulation.
ANS: C
Contractions get stronger with ambulation in true labor. True labor is also marked by the onset
of regular, rhythmic contractions.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 799 OBJ: 4
TOP: True labor KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
4. Why is the size and shape of the true pelvis more important than that of the false pelvis?
, a. The fetal head must be able to pass through the true pelvis.
b. The true pelvis are the mother’s measurements.
c. The size of the false pelvis can change.
d. The size of the true pelvis needs to be larger.
ANS: A
The size and shape of the true pelvis is more important than the false pelvis because the fetal
head must be able to pass through for vaginal delivery to occur.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 800 OBJ: 5
TOP: True pelvis KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
5. What method is used to visualize soft tissue and to determine adequacy of the pelvis with no
detrimental effects to the fetus?
a. Pelvimetry
b. Palpation
c. Ultrasonography
d. X-ray
ANS: C
In more than 20 years of use, ultrasonography has had no detrimental effects on the fetus.
Pelvimetry and x-ray uses radiation to visualize bony prominences. Pelvimetry is not used in
the pregnant patient due to detrimental effects to the fetus. Palpation does not allow for
visualization of soft tissue.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 801 OBJ: 5
TOP: Ultrasound KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
6. What area of the uterus provides the force during a contraction?
a. Lower portion
b. Middle portion
c. Upper portion
d. Cervical portion
ANS: C
The upper portion of the uterus provides the force during contractions.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 801 OBJ: 7
TOP: Passageway KEY: Nursing Process Step: Planning
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
7. What is the largest diameter of the fetal skull?
a. Temporal
b. Biparietal
c. Lateral
d. Frontal-occipital
ANS: B
The largest transverse diameter of the fetal skull is the biparietal measurement. If this is too
large, the skull may not be able to enter the mother’s pelvis.
Cooper: Foundation of Nursing
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A woman who is 38 weeks’ pregnant tells the nurse that the baby has dropped and she is
having urinary frequency again. What do these symptoms describe?
a. Lightening
b. Braxton-Hicks contractions
c. Initiation of labor
d. Engagement
ANS: A
The symptoms of lightening are a return of urinary frequency, and the patient is able to
breathe more normally.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 798 OBJ: 3
TOP: Lightening KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
2. How do Braxton-Hicks contractions differ from labor contractions?
a. Last several minutes.
b. Are always regular.
c. Do not dilate the cervix.
d. Are only mild.
ANS: C
Braxton-Hicks contractions do not dilate the cervix. Braxton-Hicks contractions remain
irregular, can range from mild to moderate in severity, and increase in duration as the
pregnancy progresses.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 799 OBJ: 4
TOP: Braxton-Hicks contractions KEY: Nursing Process Step: N/A
MSC: NCLEX: N/A
3. The nurse is trying to differentiate true labor from false labor. Which of the following is
correct regarding true labor?
a. Discomfort of the contraction is in the fundus.
b. Contractions do not follow a pattern.
c. Contractions get stronger with ambulation.
d. Contractions may stop with ambulation.
ANS: C
Contractions get stronger with ambulation in true labor. True labor is also marked by the onset
of regular, rhythmic contractions.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 799 OBJ: 4
TOP: True labor KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
4. Why is the size and shape of the true pelvis more important than that of the false pelvis?
, a. The fetal head must be able to pass through the true pelvis.
b. The true pelvis are the mother’s measurements.
c. The size of the false pelvis can change.
d. The size of the true pelvis needs to be larger.
ANS: A
The size and shape of the true pelvis is more important than the false pelvis because the fetal
head must be able to pass through for vaginal delivery to occur.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 800 OBJ: 5
TOP: True pelvis KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
5. What method is used to visualize soft tissue and to determine adequacy of the pelvis with no
detrimental effects to the fetus?
a. Pelvimetry
b. Palpation
c. Ultrasonography
d. X-ray
ANS: C
In more than 20 years of use, ultrasonography has had no detrimental effects on the fetus.
Pelvimetry and x-ray uses radiation to visualize bony prominences. Pelvimetry is not used in
the pregnant patient due to detrimental effects to the fetus. Palpation does not allow for
visualization of soft tissue.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 801 OBJ: 5
TOP: Ultrasound KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
6. What area of the uterus provides the force during a contraction?
a. Lower portion
b. Middle portion
c. Upper portion
d. Cervical portion
ANS: C
The upper portion of the uterus provides the force during contractions.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 801 OBJ: 7
TOP: Passageway KEY: Nursing Process Step: Planning
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
7. What is the largest diameter of the fetal skull?
a. Temporal
b. Biparietal
c. Lateral
d. Frontal-occipital
ANS: B
The largest transverse diameter of the fetal skull is the biparietal measurement. If this is too
large, the skull may not be able to enter the mother’s pelvis.
