Chapter 6:
Maternal Adaptation during Pregnancy
What is a positive sign of pregnancy?
Correct response:
fetal movement felt by examiner
What is the major concern for a lactose intolerant woman who is pregnant?
Correct response:
calcium deficiency
During an assessment, a client who is 5 months pregnant tells the nurse that she has to change
her diet because she is just becoming too fat. Which nursing diagnosis should the nurse use to
guide interventions for the client at this time?
Correct response:
disturbed body image
Which change in the musculoskeletal system would the nurse mention when teaching a group of
pregnant women about the physiologic changes of pregnancy?
Correct response:
increased lordosis
A nurse is caring for a pregnant client who has been diagnosed with lordosis. The nurse offers
preventive measures for which consequence of lordosis when caring for this client?
Correct response:
chronic backache
A woman's prepregnant weight is within the normal range. During her second trimester, the
nurse would determine that the woman is gaining the appropriate amount of weight when her
weight increases by which amount per week?
Correct response:
1 lb (0.45 kg)
The partner of a pregnant client in her first trimester asks the nurse about the client’s behavior
recently, stating that she is very moody, seems happy one moment and is crying the next and all
she wants to talk about is herself. What response would correctly address these concerns?
,Correct response:
Pregnant women often experience mood swings and self-centeredness but this is normal.
The nurse is teaching the pregnant woman about nutrition for herself and her baby. Which
statement by the woman indicates that the teaching was effective?
Correct response:
“I will need to take iron supplementation throughout my pregnancy even if I am not
anemic.”
Which assessment finding in the pregnant woman at 12 weeks' gestation should the nurse
find most concerning? The inability to:
Correct response:
detect fetal heart sounds with a Doppler.
A 22-year-old client comes to the walk-in clinic complaining of fatigue, breast heaviness and
extreme tenderness, and a clear vaginal discharge. What question would the nurse ask this client?
Correct response:
Have you been sexually active in the past 2 months?
In a client's seventh month of pregnancy, she reports feeling “dizzy, like I'm going to pass out,
when I lie down flat on my back.” The nurse explains that this is due to:
Correct response:
pressure of the gravid uterus on the vena cava.
The nurse instructs a pregnant client on the need to increase foods containing folic acid. Which
client statement indicates that teaching has been effective?
Correct response:
“I will add spinach to my salad every evening.”
During a physical exam, the physician notates that the pregnant client has a positive Chadwick
sign. What client findings would be noted for this symptom?
Correct response:
The cervix has a bluish, purple discoloration.
Pregnancy tests (both urine and blood) measure levels of which hormone to validate the
existence of pregnancy?
, Correct response:
human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
A client comes to the clinic and tells the nurse, "I think I might be pregnant." After completing
the history and physical examination, the nurse obtains a blood specimen for pregnancy testing.
When explaining this test to the client, which hormone will the nurse identify as being measured
by this test?
Correct response:
human chorionic gonadotropin
A client is about 16 weeks' pregnant and is concerned because she feels her "abdomen"
contracting. She calls the primary care provider's office and speaks to the nurse. What is the
nurse's most appropriate response to this client's concern?
Correct response:
"What you are feeling are called Braxton Hicks contractions. They are considered
practice contractions during pregnancy."
Which information provided by a client would be considered a presumptive sign of pregnancy?
Correct response:
Breast tenderness
A nurse is conducting a class for a group of pregnant women in their first trimester about the
emotional responses that occur during pregnancy. Which response would the nurse identify as
being seen commonly during the second trimester?
Correct response:
acceptance
During a visit to the clinic, a client in the first trimester tells the nurse, "My nose is so stuffy,
lately. Could I have a cold?" Which response by the nurse is appropriate?
Correct response:
"A stuffy nose is common in pregnancy because of high estrogen levels."
A pregnant mother may experience constipation and the increased pressure in the veins below
the uterus can lead to development of what problem?
Correct response:
Hemorrhoids
Maternal Adaptation during Pregnancy
What is a positive sign of pregnancy?
Correct response:
fetal movement felt by examiner
What is the major concern for a lactose intolerant woman who is pregnant?
Correct response:
calcium deficiency
During an assessment, a client who is 5 months pregnant tells the nurse that she has to change
her diet because she is just becoming too fat. Which nursing diagnosis should the nurse use to
guide interventions for the client at this time?
Correct response:
disturbed body image
Which change in the musculoskeletal system would the nurse mention when teaching a group of
pregnant women about the physiologic changes of pregnancy?
Correct response:
increased lordosis
A nurse is caring for a pregnant client who has been diagnosed with lordosis. The nurse offers
preventive measures for which consequence of lordosis when caring for this client?
Correct response:
chronic backache
A woman's prepregnant weight is within the normal range. During her second trimester, the
nurse would determine that the woman is gaining the appropriate amount of weight when her
weight increases by which amount per week?
Correct response:
1 lb (0.45 kg)
The partner of a pregnant client in her first trimester asks the nurse about the client’s behavior
recently, stating that she is very moody, seems happy one moment and is crying the next and all
she wants to talk about is herself. What response would correctly address these concerns?
,Correct response:
Pregnant women often experience mood swings and self-centeredness but this is normal.
The nurse is teaching the pregnant woman about nutrition for herself and her baby. Which
statement by the woman indicates that the teaching was effective?
Correct response:
“I will need to take iron supplementation throughout my pregnancy even if I am not
anemic.”
Which assessment finding in the pregnant woman at 12 weeks' gestation should the nurse
find most concerning? The inability to:
Correct response:
detect fetal heart sounds with a Doppler.
A 22-year-old client comes to the walk-in clinic complaining of fatigue, breast heaviness and
extreme tenderness, and a clear vaginal discharge. What question would the nurse ask this client?
Correct response:
Have you been sexually active in the past 2 months?
In a client's seventh month of pregnancy, she reports feeling “dizzy, like I'm going to pass out,
when I lie down flat on my back.” The nurse explains that this is due to:
Correct response:
pressure of the gravid uterus on the vena cava.
The nurse instructs a pregnant client on the need to increase foods containing folic acid. Which
client statement indicates that teaching has been effective?
Correct response:
“I will add spinach to my salad every evening.”
During a physical exam, the physician notates that the pregnant client has a positive Chadwick
sign. What client findings would be noted for this symptom?
Correct response:
The cervix has a bluish, purple discoloration.
Pregnancy tests (both urine and blood) measure levels of which hormone to validate the
existence of pregnancy?
, Correct response:
human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
A client comes to the clinic and tells the nurse, "I think I might be pregnant." After completing
the history and physical examination, the nurse obtains a blood specimen for pregnancy testing.
When explaining this test to the client, which hormone will the nurse identify as being measured
by this test?
Correct response:
human chorionic gonadotropin
A client is about 16 weeks' pregnant and is concerned because she feels her "abdomen"
contracting. She calls the primary care provider's office and speaks to the nurse. What is the
nurse's most appropriate response to this client's concern?
Correct response:
"What you are feeling are called Braxton Hicks contractions. They are considered
practice contractions during pregnancy."
Which information provided by a client would be considered a presumptive sign of pregnancy?
Correct response:
Breast tenderness
A nurse is conducting a class for a group of pregnant women in their first trimester about the
emotional responses that occur during pregnancy. Which response would the nurse identify as
being seen commonly during the second trimester?
Correct response:
acceptance
During a visit to the clinic, a client in the first trimester tells the nurse, "My nose is so stuffy,
lately. Could I have a cold?" Which response by the nurse is appropriate?
Correct response:
"A stuffy nose is common in pregnancy because of high estrogen levels."
A pregnant mother may experience constipation and the increased pressure in the veins below
the uterus can lead to development of what problem?
Correct response:
Hemorrhoids
