Maternal Child Nursing Care Chapter 18
Maternal Physiologic Changes questions and
100% verified answers latest in 2025/2026
The nurse advises a pregnant patient to do static abdominal exercises. How would these exercises
benefit the patient?
1
They will lead to a normal vaginal childbirth.
2
The patient will have diastasis recti abdominis.
3
The patient will not have any abdominal striations.
4
They will help the patient to gain proper abdominal tone after delivery. - Answer 4
A firm, muscular wall with less adipose tissue would ensure that the patient is able to regain the
prepregnancy abdominal tone after delivery. Thus the nurse should advise the patient to do static
abdominal exercises during pregnancy. The abdominal tone is not a factor based on which the nurse can
determine whether the patient would have a normal vaginal delivery. Patients with weak abdominal
muscles, especially those who have multifetal gestation or a large fetus, are at the risk of having
diastasis recti abdominis. These abdominal striations usually do not fade away completely. Although the
abdominal skin retains its tone, some striae always remain.
A pregnant patient reports to the nurse, "My nails are soft and brittle, and I am worried about it." What
is the nurse's best response to the patient?
1
"You should make sure your nails are well moisturized."
2
"You have low potassium, so take potassium supplements."
3
"Your nails are soft and brittle due to carpal tunnel syndrome."
4
,"After delivery your nails should return to normal consistency and strength." - Answer 4
Fingernails may regain strength to the prepregnancy state in a few weeks after delivery. Brittle and soft
nails are caused by iron deficiency, not potassium deficiency. Carpal tunnel syndrome causes physiologic
edema due to compression of the median nerve, but it does not cause brittle and soft nails. Moisture
can cause soft and brittle fingers, so moisture should be reduced, not enhanced.
A nonbreastfeeding patient reports discomfort in the breast caused by the accumulation of milk. What
should the nurse suggest to the patient to relieve the discomfort? Select all that apply.
1
"Use ice packs on the breast."
2
"Express the breast milk."
3
"Perform nipple stimulation."
4
"Apply fresh cabbage leaves on breast."
5
"Use a well-fitted supportive bra." - Answer 1, 4, 5
The nonlactating patient may feel discomfort caused by the accumulation of milk. The nurse advises the
patient to use ice packs, fresh cabbage leaves, and a well-fitted supportive bra for relieving discomfort.
The nurse should not advise the patient to express milk or perform nipple stimulation because it
increases milk production, which worsens pain and discomfort.
The nurse assessing a patient finds prominent rugae erythema and edema in the vaginal introitus. The
patient reports having mild afterpains. What does the nurse interpret about the patient's clinical status
from this assessment?
1
Nulliparous
2
Multiparous
, 3
Single gestation
4
Multiple gestation - Answer 1
A nulliparous woman has prominent rugae in introitus along with erythema and edema. Nulliparous
women may have mild uterine cramping resulting in fewer or less severe afterpains compared to
multiparous woman. Single gestation may cause mild afterpains, but it does not cause prominence of
rugae or erythema or edema in the introitus. A multiparous woman usually has more afterpains
compared with a nulliparous woman. Rugae are also seen in a multiparous woman, but the rugae are
less prominent and flattened. Multiple gestation usually causes severe afterpains.
The nurse is assessing a postpartum patient who reports having a severe headache. What could be the
reason for headache in the patient?
1
Problems with lactation
2
Inability to sleep properly
3
Maternal gestational hypertension
4
Administration of spinal anesthesia to the patient - Answer 4
Postpartum headaches are common and may be caused by various conditions. During delivery, an
epidural or special anesthesia may be administered. Placement of the spinal needle during spinal
anesthesia may cause leakage of cerebrospinal fluid into extradural space, which can lead to headaches.
Nonlactating women do not necessarily have headaches; they may have reduction in milk production
causing a decline in the prolactin levels, which has no effect on headaches. Gestational hypertension
causes increased flow of blood and increases heart rate, but it does not aggravate headaches. Sleep
deprivation is common in postpartum women, it causes mild headaches.
The nurse is caring for a postpartum patient and finds that the patient has brown vaginal discharge.
What is the cause of the discharge?
Maternal Physiologic Changes questions and
100% verified answers latest in 2025/2026
The nurse advises a pregnant patient to do static abdominal exercises. How would these exercises
benefit the patient?
1
They will lead to a normal vaginal childbirth.
2
The patient will have diastasis recti abdominis.
3
The patient will not have any abdominal striations.
4
They will help the patient to gain proper abdominal tone after delivery. - Answer 4
A firm, muscular wall with less adipose tissue would ensure that the patient is able to regain the
prepregnancy abdominal tone after delivery. Thus the nurse should advise the patient to do static
abdominal exercises during pregnancy. The abdominal tone is not a factor based on which the nurse can
determine whether the patient would have a normal vaginal delivery. Patients with weak abdominal
muscles, especially those who have multifetal gestation or a large fetus, are at the risk of having
diastasis recti abdominis. These abdominal striations usually do not fade away completely. Although the
abdominal skin retains its tone, some striae always remain.
A pregnant patient reports to the nurse, "My nails are soft and brittle, and I am worried about it." What
is the nurse's best response to the patient?
1
"You should make sure your nails are well moisturized."
2
"You have low potassium, so take potassium supplements."
3
"Your nails are soft and brittle due to carpal tunnel syndrome."
4
,"After delivery your nails should return to normal consistency and strength." - Answer 4
Fingernails may regain strength to the prepregnancy state in a few weeks after delivery. Brittle and soft
nails are caused by iron deficiency, not potassium deficiency. Carpal tunnel syndrome causes physiologic
edema due to compression of the median nerve, but it does not cause brittle and soft nails. Moisture
can cause soft and brittle fingers, so moisture should be reduced, not enhanced.
A nonbreastfeeding patient reports discomfort in the breast caused by the accumulation of milk. What
should the nurse suggest to the patient to relieve the discomfort? Select all that apply.
1
"Use ice packs on the breast."
2
"Express the breast milk."
3
"Perform nipple stimulation."
4
"Apply fresh cabbage leaves on breast."
5
"Use a well-fitted supportive bra." - Answer 1, 4, 5
The nonlactating patient may feel discomfort caused by the accumulation of milk. The nurse advises the
patient to use ice packs, fresh cabbage leaves, and a well-fitted supportive bra for relieving discomfort.
The nurse should not advise the patient to express milk or perform nipple stimulation because it
increases milk production, which worsens pain and discomfort.
The nurse assessing a patient finds prominent rugae erythema and edema in the vaginal introitus. The
patient reports having mild afterpains. What does the nurse interpret about the patient's clinical status
from this assessment?
1
Nulliparous
2
Multiparous
, 3
Single gestation
4
Multiple gestation - Answer 1
A nulliparous woman has prominent rugae in introitus along with erythema and edema. Nulliparous
women may have mild uterine cramping resulting in fewer or less severe afterpains compared to
multiparous woman. Single gestation may cause mild afterpains, but it does not cause prominence of
rugae or erythema or edema in the introitus. A multiparous woman usually has more afterpains
compared with a nulliparous woman. Rugae are also seen in a multiparous woman, but the rugae are
less prominent and flattened. Multiple gestation usually causes severe afterpains.
The nurse is assessing a postpartum patient who reports having a severe headache. What could be the
reason for headache in the patient?
1
Problems with lactation
2
Inability to sleep properly
3
Maternal gestational hypertension
4
Administration of spinal anesthesia to the patient - Answer 4
Postpartum headaches are common and may be caused by various conditions. During delivery, an
epidural or special anesthesia may be administered. Placement of the spinal needle during spinal
anesthesia may cause leakage of cerebrospinal fluid into extradural space, which can lead to headaches.
Nonlactating women do not necessarily have headaches; they may have reduction in milk production
causing a decline in the prolactin levels, which has no effect on headaches. Gestational hypertension
causes increased flow of blood and increases heart rate, but it does not aggravate headaches. Sleep
deprivation is common in postpartum women, it causes mild headaches.
The nurse is caring for a postpartum patient and finds that the patient has brown vaginal discharge.
What is the cause of the discharge?
