HESI MATERNAL CORE OBSTETRIC AND
MATERNITY NURSING CONCEPTS REVIEW
2026
◉ The client comes to the hospital assuming she is in labor. Which
assessment findings by the nurse would indicate that the client is in
true labor? (Select all that apply.)
A.Pain in the lower back that radiates to abdomen
B.Contractions decreased in frequency with ambulation
C.Progressive cervical dilation and effacement
D.Discomfort localized in the abdomen
E.Regular and rhythmic painful contractions.
Answer: A.Pain in the lower back that radiates to abdomen
C.Progressive cervical dilation and effacement
E.Regular and rhythmic painful contractions
,Rationale: These are all signs of true labor. Options B and D are signs
of false labor.
◉ Which statement made by the client indicates that the mother
understands the limitations of breastfeeding her newborn?
A."Breastfeeding my infant consistently every 3 to 4 hours stops
ovulation and my period."
B."Breastfeeding my baby immediately after drinking alcohol is
safer than waiting for the alcohol to clear my breast milk."
C."I can start smoking cigarettes while breastfeeding because it will
not affect my breast milk."
D."When I take a warm shower after I breastfeed, it relieves the pain
from being engorged between breastfeedings..
Answer: A."Breastfeeding my infant consistently every 3 to 4 hours
stops ovulation and my period."
Rationale: Continuous breastfeeding on a 3- to 4-hour schedule
during the day will cause a release of prolactin, which will suppress
ovulation and menses, but is not completely effective as a birth
control method. Option B is incorrect because alcohol can
immediately enter the breast milk. Nicotine is transferred to the
,infant in breast milk. Taking a warm shower will stimulate the
production of milk, which will be more painful after breastfeedings.
◉ A new mother who has just had her first baby says to the nurse, "I
saw the baby in the recovery room. She sure has a funny-looking
head." Which response by the nurse is best?
A."This is not an unusually shaped head, especially for a first baby."
B."It may look odd, but newborn babies are often born with heads
like that."
C."That is normal. The head will return to a round shape within 7 to
10 days."
D."Your pelvis was too small, so the head had to adjust to the birth
canal.".
Answer: C."That is normal. The head will return to a round shape
within 7 to 10 days."
Rationale: Option C reassures the mother that this is normal in the
newborn and provides correct information regarding the return to a
normal shape. Although option A is correct, it implies that the client
should not worry. Any implied or spoken "don't worry" is usually the
wrong answer. Option B is condescending and dismissing; the
, mother is seeking reassurance and information. Option D is a
negative statement and implies that molding is the mother's fault.
◉ Twenty minutes after a continuous epidural anesthetic is
administered, a laboring client's blood pressure drops from 120/80
to 90/60 mm Hg. Which action should the nurse take immediately?
A.Notify the health care provider or anesthesiologist.
B.Continue to assess the blood pressure every 5 minutes.
C.Place the client in a lateral position.
D.Turn off the continuous epidural..
Answer: C.Place the client in a lateral position.
Rationale: The nurse should immediately turn the client to a lateral
position or place a pillow or wedge under one hip to deflect the
uterus. Other immediate interventions include increasing the rate of
the main line IV infusion and administering oxygen by facemask. If
the blood pressure remains low after these interventions or
decreases further, the anesthesiologist or health care provider
should be notified immediately. To continue to monitor blood
pressure without taking further action could constitute malpractice.
MATERNITY NURSING CONCEPTS REVIEW
2026
◉ The client comes to the hospital assuming she is in labor. Which
assessment findings by the nurse would indicate that the client is in
true labor? (Select all that apply.)
A.Pain in the lower back that radiates to abdomen
B.Contractions decreased in frequency with ambulation
C.Progressive cervical dilation and effacement
D.Discomfort localized in the abdomen
E.Regular and rhythmic painful contractions.
Answer: A.Pain in the lower back that radiates to abdomen
C.Progressive cervical dilation and effacement
E.Regular and rhythmic painful contractions
,Rationale: These are all signs of true labor. Options B and D are signs
of false labor.
◉ Which statement made by the client indicates that the mother
understands the limitations of breastfeeding her newborn?
A."Breastfeeding my infant consistently every 3 to 4 hours stops
ovulation and my period."
B."Breastfeeding my baby immediately after drinking alcohol is
safer than waiting for the alcohol to clear my breast milk."
C."I can start smoking cigarettes while breastfeeding because it will
not affect my breast milk."
D."When I take a warm shower after I breastfeed, it relieves the pain
from being engorged between breastfeedings..
Answer: A."Breastfeeding my infant consistently every 3 to 4 hours
stops ovulation and my period."
Rationale: Continuous breastfeeding on a 3- to 4-hour schedule
during the day will cause a release of prolactin, which will suppress
ovulation and menses, but is not completely effective as a birth
control method. Option B is incorrect because alcohol can
immediately enter the breast milk. Nicotine is transferred to the
,infant in breast milk. Taking a warm shower will stimulate the
production of milk, which will be more painful after breastfeedings.
◉ A new mother who has just had her first baby says to the nurse, "I
saw the baby in the recovery room. She sure has a funny-looking
head." Which response by the nurse is best?
A."This is not an unusually shaped head, especially for a first baby."
B."It may look odd, but newborn babies are often born with heads
like that."
C."That is normal. The head will return to a round shape within 7 to
10 days."
D."Your pelvis was too small, so the head had to adjust to the birth
canal.".
Answer: C."That is normal. The head will return to a round shape
within 7 to 10 days."
Rationale: Option C reassures the mother that this is normal in the
newborn and provides correct information regarding the return to a
normal shape. Although option A is correct, it implies that the client
should not worry. Any implied or spoken "don't worry" is usually the
wrong answer. Option B is condescending and dismissing; the
, mother is seeking reassurance and information. Option D is a
negative statement and implies that molding is the mother's fault.
◉ Twenty minutes after a continuous epidural anesthetic is
administered, a laboring client's blood pressure drops from 120/80
to 90/60 mm Hg. Which action should the nurse take immediately?
A.Notify the health care provider or anesthesiologist.
B.Continue to assess the blood pressure every 5 minutes.
C.Place the client in a lateral position.
D.Turn off the continuous epidural..
Answer: C.Place the client in a lateral position.
Rationale: The nurse should immediately turn the client to a lateral
position or place a pillow or wedge under one hip to deflect the
uterus. Other immediate interventions include increasing the rate of
the main line IV infusion and administering oxygen by facemask. If
the blood pressure remains low after these interventions or
decreases further, the anesthesiologist or health care provider
should be notified immediately. To continue to monitor blood
pressure without taking further action could constitute malpractice.
