Midwifery Comprehensive Exam
Two products of impaired blood flow to the legs are thought to be linked to cramps? -
Answer- Pyruvic acid
Lactic acid
Name two prevention techniques for nocturnal leg cramps - Answer- Hydration,
stretching, avoid long periods of sitting or standing, warm baths, exercise
What is the most important differential diagnosis to rule out when a pregnant patient
comes in with complaints of leg cramping? - Answer- Deep Vein Thrombosis:
Look for warm red tender swollen leg.
Conflicting evidence supports taking which supplement for leg cramps ? - Answer-
Magnesium
True or false. Women with NVP have lower rates of preterm births, low birth weight
babies, congenital anomalies, and stillbirths. - Answer- True
How does progesterone contribute to NVP? - Answer- Slows peristalsis and gastric
emptying
If dietary measures, lifestyle changes, and OTC remedies do not help with NVP,
what medicine has shown to be effective with NVP? - Answer- Antiemetics such
Zofran (Ondansetron). Note: Not mentioned in Varney's
True of False. Effective therapy for NVP will always remain the same for a woman
throughout her pregnancy and subsequent pregnancies. - Answer- False.
Effectiveness of therapy may fluctuate over the course of pregnancy and varies
greatly from pregnancy to pregnancy.
True or False. To combat nausea during pregnancy, one should brush their teeth
immediately after they eat. - Answer- False. Brushing your teeth can stimulate the
gag reflex, aggravating nausea and vomiting.
What pre-existing conditions can contribute to NVP? - Answer- H. pylori and GERD
What is the most important differential diagnosis to rule out with leg cramps during
pregnancy? - Answer- Deep vein thrombosis
True/false: Leg cramps during pregnancy are not normal and should be reported
immediately to provider. - Answer- False. Leg cramps are completely normal during
pregnancy and occur more frequently during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters.
How can your pregnant patient prevent leg cramps (select all that apply)?
a. Walking or other exercise
b. Drink plenty of water
,c. Stretch before bed
d. Taking a warm bath
e. Sitting for long periods of time - Answer- A, B, C, D
True/false: Dorsiflexion of the affected foot when a cramp begins helps to alleviate
the pain. - Answer- True
True/false: Magnesium supplements have been found to help with leg cramps. -
Answer- False. Research is mixed and taking magnesium supplements seem to
have little effect on preventing leg cramps in pregnant women.
True or False: Back pain may be a sign of preterm labor only if cramping is present. -
Answer- False: Cramping may or may not accompany preterm labor.
What are some of the contributing factors causing back pain during pregnancy?
A. The weight of a growing uterus
B. A shift in her center of gravity
C. Relaxation of sacroiliac ligaments
D. All of the above - Answer- D
True or False: Acupuncture is a holistic method that has not been correlated with
effective pain relief. - Answer- False: One study found that 60% of women reported a
decrease in back pain after receiving acupuncture.
True or False: It is safe to receive chiropractic manipulation during pregnancy. -
Answer- True: As long as a patient sees a licensed chiropractor, studies have shown
manual manipulation to be effective.
Why does Round Ligament pain occur? - Answer- As the uterus grows during
pregnancy the ligaments stretch and thicken to accommodate and support it. These
changes can occasionally cause pains.
Where are Round Ligament pains felt? - Answer- Round Ligament pain is a sharp
pain or jabbing feeling often felt in the lower belly or groin area on one or both sides.
What are some of the triggers of Round Ligament pains? - Answer- Round Ligament
pains can occur with position changes, getting up from a sitting, lying down,
coughing, sneezing, and laughing.
What non-pharmacological methods can be used to alleviate Round Ligament
pains? - Answer- Avoid sudden movements
Side lying relaxation positions
Flex hips: Bend and flex before coughing, sneezing, or laughing.
Apply warmth: Heat or warm bath.
Exercise: Walking
True/False:
Round Ligament pains lasting for more than 1 minute is normal. - Answer- False:
Round Ligament pain should only last for a few seconds. See your health care
provider for pains lasting longer or not alleviate after a short rest.
, What are "dermatoses of pregnancy"? - Answer- Dermatoses of pregnancy are rare
severe pruritic inflammatory skin diseases that are specific to women during
pregnant or postpartum period.
MATCH the dermatoses of pregnancy with its clinical presentation.
1. Pruritic Urticarial papules and plaques of preganancy
2. Pemphigiod gastationis
3. Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy
4. Atopic eruption of pregnancy
A. Red painful itchy rash that begins as erythematous papules within the striae
B. Eczematous type on face, neck and flexure surfaces
C. Papules that begins around the umbilicus and spreads centrifugally.
D. Intense pruritus on palms of hands and soles of feet, but with an absence of
lesions. - Answer- 1. Pruritic Urticarial papules and plaques of preganancy= A
2. Pemphigiod gastationis=C
3. Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy=D
4. Atopic eruption of pregnancy=B
Pemphigoid gestationis, which begins as plaques or papules around the womans's
umbilicus and spreads centrifugally. TRUE or FALSE. The plaques and papules
usually spreads to the face, scalp and mucus membrane also. - Answer- FALSE. In
pemphigoid gestationis, the face, scalp and mucus membrane are UNAFFECTED.
Your patient Ms G is in her third trimester and is complaining of intense itching, dark
colored urine and clay colored stools. You suspect which dermatoses of pregnancy?
A. Pruritic Urticarial papules and plaques of preganancy
B. Pemphigiod gastationis
C. Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy
D. Atopic eruption of pregnancy - Answer- C. Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy
Pruritic Urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy usually presents:
A. Before 12 weeks gestation
B. Early in the second trimester
C. Late in the third trimester - Answer- C. Late in the third trimester
True/False: Although it often appears during the first trimester, pregnancy rhinitis can
occur at any point during pregnancy. - Answer- True.
What is the believed etiology of pregnancy rhinitis? - Answer- Increased hormone
levels.
Increased blood flow.
True/False: Caffeinated fluids help relieve the symptoms of pregnancy rhinitis. -
Answer- False.
When does pregnancy rhinitis typically resolve? - Answer- After delivery- typically
disappears within 2 weeks after delivery.
Two products of impaired blood flow to the legs are thought to be linked to cramps? -
Answer- Pyruvic acid
Lactic acid
Name two prevention techniques for nocturnal leg cramps - Answer- Hydration,
stretching, avoid long periods of sitting or standing, warm baths, exercise
What is the most important differential diagnosis to rule out when a pregnant patient
comes in with complaints of leg cramping? - Answer- Deep Vein Thrombosis:
Look for warm red tender swollen leg.
Conflicting evidence supports taking which supplement for leg cramps ? - Answer-
Magnesium
True or false. Women with NVP have lower rates of preterm births, low birth weight
babies, congenital anomalies, and stillbirths. - Answer- True
How does progesterone contribute to NVP? - Answer- Slows peristalsis and gastric
emptying
If dietary measures, lifestyle changes, and OTC remedies do not help with NVP,
what medicine has shown to be effective with NVP? - Answer- Antiemetics such
Zofran (Ondansetron). Note: Not mentioned in Varney's
True of False. Effective therapy for NVP will always remain the same for a woman
throughout her pregnancy and subsequent pregnancies. - Answer- False.
Effectiveness of therapy may fluctuate over the course of pregnancy and varies
greatly from pregnancy to pregnancy.
True or False. To combat nausea during pregnancy, one should brush their teeth
immediately after they eat. - Answer- False. Brushing your teeth can stimulate the
gag reflex, aggravating nausea and vomiting.
What pre-existing conditions can contribute to NVP? - Answer- H. pylori and GERD
What is the most important differential diagnosis to rule out with leg cramps during
pregnancy? - Answer- Deep vein thrombosis
True/false: Leg cramps during pregnancy are not normal and should be reported
immediately to provider. - Answer- False. Leg cramps are completely normal during
pregnancy and occur more frequently during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters.
How can your pregnant patient prevent leg cramps (select all that apply)?
a. Walking or other exercise
b. Drink plenty of water
,c. Stretch before bed
d. Taking a warm bath
e. Sitting for long periods of time - Answer- A, B, C, D
True/false: Dorsiflexion of the affected foot when a cramp begins helps to alleviate
the pain. - Answer- True
True/false: Magnesium supplements have been found to help with leg cramps. -
Answer- False. Research is mixed and taking magnesium supplements seem to
have little effect on preventing leg cramps in pregnant women.
True or False: Back pain may be a sign of preterm labor only if cramping is present. -
Answer- False: Cramping may or may not accompany preterm labor.
What are some of the contributing factors causing back pain during pregnancy?
A. The weight of a growing uterus
B. A shift in her center of gravity
C. Relaxation of sacroiliac ligaments
D. All of the above - Answer- D
True or False: Acupuncture is a holistic method that has not been correlated with
effective pain relief. - Answer- False: One study found that 60% of women reported a
decrease in back pain after receiving acupuncture.
True or False: It is safe to receive chiropractic manipulation during pregnancy. -
Answer- True: As long as a patient sees a licensed chiropractor, studies have shown
manual manipulation to be effective.
Why does Round Ligament pain occur? - Answer- As the uterus grows during
pregnancy the ligaments stretch and thicken to accommodate and support it. These
changes can occasionally cause pains.
Where are Round Ligament pains felt? - Answer- Round Ligament pain is a sharp
pain or jabbing feeling often felt in the lower belly or groin area on one or both sides.
What are some of the triggers of Round Ligament pains? - Answer- Round Ligament
pains can occur with position changes, getting up from a sitting, lying down,
coughing, sneezing, and laughing.
What non-pharmacological methods can be used to alleviate Round Ligament
pains? - Answer- Avoid sudden movements
Side lying relaxation positions
Flex hips: Bend and flex before coughing, sneezing, or laughing.
Apply warmth: Heat or warm bath.
Exercise: Walking
True/False:
Round Ligament pains lasting for more than 1 minute is normal. - Answer- False:
Round Ligament pain should only last for a few seconds. See your health care
provider for pains lasting longer or not alleviate after a short rest.
, What are "dermatoses of pregnancy"? - Answer- Dermatoses of pregnancy are rare
severe pruritic inflammatory skin diseases that are specific to women during
pregnant or postpartum period.
MATCH the dermatoses of pregnancy with its clinical presentation.
1. Pruritic Urticarial papules and plaques of preganancy
2. Pemphigiod gastationis
3. Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy
4. Atopic eruption of pregnancy
A. Red painful itchy rash that begins as erythematous papules within the striae
B. Eczematous type on face, neck and flexure surfaces
C. Papules that begins around the umbilicus and spreads centrifugally.
D. Intense pruritus on palms of hands and soles of feet, but with an absence of
lesions. - Answer- 1. Pruritic Urticarial papules and plaques of preganancy= A
2. Pemphigiod gastationis=C
3. Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy=D
4. Atopic eruption of pregnancy=B
Pemphigoid gestationis, which begins as plaques or papules around the womans's
umbilicus and spreads centrifugally. TRUE or FALSE. The plaques and papules
usually spreads to the face, scalp and mucus membrane also. - Answer- FALSE. In
pemphigoid gestationis, the face, scalp and mucus membrane are UNAFFECTED.
Your patient Ms G is in her third trimester and is complaining of intense itching, dark
colored urine and clay colored stools. You suspect which dermatoses of pregnancy?
A. Pruritic Urticarial papules and plaques of preganancy
B. Pemphigiod gastationis
C. Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy
D. Atopic eruption of pregnancy - Answer- C. Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy
Pruritic Urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy usually presents:
A. Before 12 weeks gestation
B. Early in the second trimester
C. Late in the third trimester - Answer- C. Late in the third trimester
True/False: Although it often appears during the first trimester, pregnancy rhinitis can
occur at any point during pregnancy. - Answer- True.
What is the believed etiology of pregnancy rhinitis? - Answer- Increased hormone
levels.
Increased blood flow.
True/False: Caffeinated fluids help relieve the symptoms of pregnancy rhinitis. -
Answer- False.
When does pregnancy rhinitis typically resolve? - Answer- After delivery- typically
disappears within 2 weeks after delivery.
