Maternal Child Nursing Care - Chapter 17:
Labor and Birth Complications questions
and 100% verified answers 2025/2026 version
In planning for home care of a woman with preterm labor, which concern must the nurse address?
a. Nursing assessments will be different from those done in the hospital setting.
b. Restricted activity and medications will be necessary to prevent recurrence of preterm labor.
c. Prolonged bed rest may cause negative physiologic effects.
d. Home health care providers will be necessary. - Answer ANS: C
Prolonged bed rest may cause adverse effects such as weight loss, loss of appetite, muscle wasting,
weakness, bone demineralization, decreased cardiac output, risk for thrombophlebitis, alteration in
bowel functions, sleep disturbance, and prolonged after birth recovery. Nursing assessments will differ
somewhat from those performed in the acute care setting, but this is not the concern that needs to be
addressed. Restricted activity and medication may prevent preterm labor, but not in all women. In
addition, the plan of care is individualized to meet the needs of each woman. Many women will receive
home health nurse visits, but care is individualized for each woman.
The nurse providing care for a woman with preterm labor who is receiving terbutaline would include
which intervention to identify side effects of the drug?
a. Assessing deep tendon reflexes (DTRs)
b. Assessing for chest discomfort and palpitations
c. Assessing for bradycardia
d. Assessing for hypoglycemia - Answer ANS: B
Terbutaline is a β2-adrenergic agonist that affects the cardiopulmonary and metabolic systems of the
mother. Signs of cardiopulmonary decompensation would include chest pain and palpitations. Assessing
DTRs would not address these concerns. β2-Adrenergic agonist drugs cause tachycardia, not
bradycardia. The metabolic effect leads to hyperglycemia, not hypoglycemia.
In evaluating the effectiveness of magnesium sulfate for the treatment of preterm labor, what finding
would alert the nurse to possible side effects?
, a. Urine output of 160 mL in 4 hours
b. Deep tendon reflexes 2+ and no clonus
c. Respiratory rate of 16 breaths/min
d. Serum magnesium level of 10 mg/dL - Answer ANS: D
The therapeutic range for magnesium sulfate management is 5 to 8 mg/dL. A serum magnesium level of
10 mg/dL could lead to signs and symptoms of magnesium toxicity, including oliguria and respiratory
distress. Urine output of 160 mL in 4 hours, deep tendon reflexes 2+ with no clonus, and respiratory rate
of 16 breaths/min are normal findings.
A woman in preterm labor at 30 weeks of gestation receives two 12-mg doses of betamethasone
intramuscularly. The purpose of this pharmacologic treatment is to:
a. stimulate fetal surfactant production.
b. reduce maternal and fetal tachycardia associated with ritodrine administration.
c. suppress uterine contractions.
d. maintain adequate maternal respiratory effort and ventilation during magnesium sulfate therapy. -
Answer ANS: A
Antenatal glucocorticoids given as intramuscular injections to the mother accelerate fetal lung maturity.
Inderal would be given to reduce the effects of ritodrine administration. Betamethasone has no effect
on uterine contractions. Calcium gluconate would be given to reverse the respiratory depressive effects
of magnesium sulfate therapy.
A woman at 26 weeks of gestation is being assessed to determine whether she is experiencing preterm
labor. What finding indicates that preterm labor is occurring?
a. Estriol is not found in maternal saliva.
b. Irregular, mild uterine contractions are occurring every 12 to 15 minutes.
c. Fetal fibronectin is present in vaginal secretions.
d. The cervix is effacing and dilated to 2 cm. - Answer ANS: D
Cervical changes such as shortened endocervical length, effacement, and dilation are predictors of
imminent preterm labor. Changes in the cervix accompanied by regular contractions indicate labor at
any gestation. Estriol is a form of estrogen produced by the fetus that is present in plasma at 9 weeks of
gestation. Levels of salivary estriol have been shown to increase before preterm birth. Irregular, mild
Labor and Birth Complications questions
and 100% verified answers 2025/2026 version
In planning for home care of a woman with preterm labor, which concern must the nurse address?
a. Nursing assessments will be different from those done in the hospital setting.
b. Restricted activity and medications will be necessary to prevent recurrence of preterm labor.
c. Prolonged bed rest may cause negative physiologic effects.
d. Home health care providers will be necessary. - Answer ANS: C
Prolonged bed rest may cause adverse effects such as weight loss, loss of appetite, muscle wasting,
weakness, bone demineralization, decreased cardiac output, risk for thrombophlebitis, alteration in
bowel functions, sleep disturbance, and prolonged after birth recovery. Nursing assessments will differ
somewhat from those performed in the acute care setting, but this is not the concern that needs to be
addressed. Restricted activity and medication may prevent preterm labor, but not in all women. In
addition, the plan of care is individualized to meet the needs of each woman. Many women will receive
home health nurse visits, but care is individualized for each woman.
The nurse providing care for a woman with preterm labor who is receiving terbutaline would include
which intervention to identify side effects of the drug?
a. Assessing deep tendon reflexes (DTRs)
b. Assessing for chest discomfort and palpitations
c. Assessing for bradycardia
d. Assessing for hypoglycemia - Answer ANS: B
Terbutaline is a β2-adrenergic agonist that affects the cardiopulmonary and metabolic systems of the
mother. Signs of cardiopulmonary decompensation would include chest pain and palpitations. Assessing
DTRs would not address these concerns. β2-Adrenergic agonist drugs cause tachycardia, not
bradycardia. The metabolic effect leads to hyperglycemia, not hypoglycemia.
In evaluating the effectiveness of magnesium sulfate for the treatment of preterm labor, what finding
would alert the nurse to possible side effects?
, a. Urine output of 160 mL in 4 hours
b. Deep tendon reflexes 2+ and no clonus
c. Respiratory rate of 16 breaths/min
d. Serum magnesium level of 10 mg/dL - Answer ANS: D
The therapeutic range for magnesium sulfate management is 5 to 8 mg/dL. A serum magnesium level of
10 mg/dL could lead to signs and symptoms of magnesium toxicity, including oliguria and respiratory
distress. Urine output of 160 mL in 4 hours, deep tendon reflexes 2+ with no clonus, and respiratory rate
of 16 breaths/min are normal findings.
A woman in preterm labor at 30 weeks of gestation receives two 12-mg doses of betamethasone
intramuscularly. The purpose of this pharmacologic treatment is to:
a. stimulate fetal surfactant production.
b. reduce maternal and fetal tachycardia associated with ritodrine administration.
c. suppress uterine contractions.
d. maintain adequate maternal respiratory effort and ventilation during magnesium sulfate therapy. -
Answer ANS: A
Antenatal glucocorticoids given as intramuscular injections to the mother accelerate fetal lung maturity.
Inderal would be given to reduce the effects of ritodrine administration. Betamethasone has no effect
on uterine contractions. Calcium gluconate would be given to reverse the respiratory depressive effects
of magnesium sulfate therapy.
A woman at 26 weeks of gestation is being assessed to determine whether she is experiencing preterm
labor. What finding indicates that preterm labor is occurring?
a. Estriol is not found in maternal saliva.
b. Irregular, mild uterine contractions are occurring every 12 to 15 minutes.
c. Fetal fibronectin is present in vaginal secretions.
d. The cervix is effacing and dilated to 2 cm. - Answer ANS: D
Cervical changes such as shortened endocervical length, effacement, and dilation are predictors of
imminent preterm labor. Changes in the cervix accompanied by regular contractions indicate labor at
any gestation. Estriol is a form of estrogen produced by the fetus that is present in plasma at 9 weeks of
gestation. Levels of salivary estriol have been shown to increase before preterm birth. Irregular, mild
