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REVIEWER
360 Nursing Bullets: Maternity and
Newborn Nursing Reviewer
UPDATED ON JULY 22, 2023
BY MATT VERA BSN, R.N.
Get ready to be amazed with these easy-to-comprehend nursing bullets for maternal
,and child health nursing. Pop these up if you need a quick review of the concepts
behind maternity nursing for your NCLEX. These nursing bullets cover topics about
labor, pregnancy, nursing care of the newborn, developmental stages and many more!
Table of Contents
Nursing Bullets
Basic Maternity Concepts
Menstruation
Breastfeeding
Neonatal Care
Prenatal Care
Labor and Delivery
Postpartum Care
Pregnancy Complications
Nonstress Test
Placental Abnormalities
Preeclampsia
Contraceptives
Nursing Bullets
Basic Maternity Concepts
1. The male sperm contributes an X or a Y chromosome; the female ovum
contributes an X chromosome.
2. Fertilization produces a total of 46 chromosomes, including an XY combination
(male) or an XX combination (female).
3. Organogenesis occurs during the first trimester of pregnancy, specifically, days
14 to 56 of gestation.
4. Implantation in the uterus occurs 6 to 10 days after ovum fertilization.
5. The chorion is the outermost extraembryonic membrane that gives rise to the
placenta.
6. The corpus luteum secretes large quantities of progesterone.
7. From the 8th week of gestation through delivery, the developing cells are
known as a fetus.
, 8. The union of a male and a female gamete produces a zygote, which divides into
the fertilized ovum.
9. Spermatozoa (or their fragments) remain in the vagina for 72 hours after sexual
intercourse.
10. If the ovum is fertilized by a spermatozoon carrying a Y chromosome, a male
zygote is formed.
11. Implantation occurs when the cellular walls of the blastocyte implants itself in
the endometrium, usually 7 to 9 days after fertilization.
12. Implantation occurs when the cellular walls of the blastocyte implants itself in
the endometrium, usually 7 to 9 days after fertilization.
13. Heart development in the embryo begins at 2 to 4 weeks and is complete by the
end of the embryonic stage.
Menstruation
14. If a patient misses a menstrual period while taking an oral contraceptive exactly
as prescribed, she should continue taking the contraceptive.
15. The first menstrual flow is called menarche and may be anovulatory (infertile).
Breastfeeding
16. When both breasts are used for breastfeeding, the infant usually doesn’t empty
the second breast. Therefore, the second breast should be used first at the next
feeding.
17. Stress, dehydration, and fatigue may reduce a breastfeeding mother’s milk
supply.
18. To help a mother break the suction of her breastfeeding infant, the nurse should
teach her to insert a finger at the corner of the infant’s mouth.
19. Cow’s milk shouldn’t be given to infants younger than age one (1) because it has
a low linoleic acid content and its protein is difficult for infants to digest.
20. A woman who is breastfeeding should rub a mild emollient cream or a few drops
of breast milk (or colostrum) on the nipples after each feeding. She should let
the breasts air-dry to prevent them from cracking.
21. Breastfeeding mothers should increase their fluid intake to 2½ to 3 qt (2,500 to
3,000 ml) daily.
22. After feeding an infant with a cleft lip or palate, the nurse should rinse the
, infant’s mouth with sterile water.
23. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been cultured in breast milk and can
be transmitted by an HIV-positive mother who breast-feeds her infant.
24. Colostrum, the precursor of milk, is the first secretion from the breasts after
delivery.
25. A mother should allow her infant to breastfeed until the infant is satisfied. The
time may vary from 5 to 20 minutes.
26. Most drugs that a breastfeeding mother takes appear in breast milk.
27. Prolactin stimulates and sustains milk production.
28. Breastfeeding of a premature neonate born at 32 weeks gestation can be
accomplished if the mother expresses milk and feeds the neonate by gavage.
29. A mother who has a positive human immunodeficiency virus test result
shouldn’t breastfeed her infant.
30. Hot compresses can help to relieve breast tenderness after breastfeeding.
31. Unlike formula, breast milk offers the benefit of maternal antibodies.
Neonatal Care
32. The initial weight loss for a healthy neonate is 5% to 10% of birth weight.
33. The normal hemoglobin value in neonates is 17 to 20 g/dl.
34. The circumference of a neonate’s head is normally 2 to 3 cm greater than the
circumference of the chest.
35. After delivery, the first nursing action is to establish the neonate’s airway.
36. The specific gravity of a neonate’s urine is 1.003 to 1.030. A lower specific
gravity suggests overhydration; a higher one suggests dehydration.
37. During the first hour after birth (the period of reactivity), the neonate is alert
and awake.
38. The neonatal period extends from birth to day 28. It’s also called the first four
(4) weeks or first month of life.
39. A low-birth-weight neonate weighs 2,500 g (5 lb 8 oz) or less at birth.
40. A very-low-birth-weight neonate weighs 1,500 g (3 lb 5 oz) or less at birth.
41. Administering high levels of oxygen to a premature neonate can cause
blindness as a result of retrolental fibroplasia.
42. An Apgar score of 7 to 10 indicates no immediate distress, 4 to 6 indicates
REVIEWER
360 Nursing Bullets: Maternity and
Newborn Nursing Reviewer
UPDATED ON JULY 22, 2023
BY MATT VERA BSN, R.N.
Get ready to be amazed with these easy-to-comprehend nursing bullets for maternal
,and child health nursing. Pop these up if you need a quick review of the concepts
behind maternity nursing for your NCLEX. These nursing bullets cover topics about
labor, pregnancy, nursing care of the newborn, developmental stages and many more!
Table of Contents
Nursing Bullets
Basic Maternity Concepts
Menstruation
Breastfeeding
Neonatal Care
Prenatal Care
Labor and Delivery
Postpartum Care
Pregnancy Complications
Nonstress Test
Placental Abnormalities
Preeclampsia
Contraceptives
Nursing Bullets
Basic Maternity Concepts
1. The male sperm contributes an X or a Y chromosome; the female ovum
contributes an X chromosome.
2. Fertilization produces a total of 46 chromosomes, including an XY combination
(male) or an XX combination (female).
3. Organogenesis occurs during the first trimester of pregnancy, specifically, days
14 to 56 of gestation.
4. Implantation in the uterus occurs 6 to 10 days after ovum fertilization.
5. The chorion is the outermost extraembryonic membrane that gives rise to the
placenta.
6. The corpus luteum secretes large quantities of progesterone.
7. From the 8th week of gestation through delivery, the developing cells are
known as a fetus.
, 8. The union of a male and a female gamete produces a zygote, which divides into
the fertilized ovum.
9. Spermatozoa (or their fragments) remain in the vagina for 72 hours after sexual
intercourse.
10. If the ovum is fertilized by a spermatozoon carrying a Y chromosome, a male
zygote is formed.
11. Implantation occurs when the cellular walls of the blastocyte implants itself in
the endometrium, usually 7 to 9 days after fertilization.
12. Implantation occurs when the cellular walls of the blastocyte implants itself in
the endometrium, usually 7 to 9 days after fertilization.
13. Heart development in the embryo begins at 2 to 4 weeks and is complete by the
end of the embryonic stage.
Menstruation
14. If a patient misses a menstrual period while taking an oral contraceptive exactly
as prescribed, she should continue taking the contraceptive.
15. The first menstrual flow is called menarche and may be anovulatory (infertile).
Breastfeeding
16. When both breasts are used for breastfeeding, the infant usually doesn’t empty
the second breast. Therefore, the second breast should be used first at the next
feeding.
17. Stress, dehydration, and fatigue may reduce a breastfeeding mother’s milk
supply.
18. To help a mother break the suction of her breastfeeding infant, the nurse should
teach her to insert a finger at the corner of the infant’s mouth.
19. Cow’s milk shouldn’t be given to infants younger than age one (1) because it has
a low linoleic acid content and its protein is difficult for infants to digest.
20. A woman who is breastfeeding should rub a mild emollient cream or a few drops
of breast milk (or colostrum) on the nipples after each feeding. She should let
the breasts air-dry to prevent them from cracking.
21. Breastfeeding mothers should increase their fluid intake to 2½ to 3 qt (2,500 to
3,000 ml) daily.
22. After feeding an infant with a cleft lip or palate, the nurse should rinse the
, infant’s mouth with sterile water.
23. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been cultured in breast milk and can
be transmitted by an HIV-positive mother who breast-feeds her infant.
24. Colostrum, the precursor of milk, is the first secretion from the breasts after
delivery.
25. A mother should allow her infant to breastfeed until the infant is satisfied. The
time may vary from 5 to 20 minutes.
26. Most drugs that a breastfeeding mother takes appear in breast milk.
27. Prolactin stimulates and sustains milk production.
28. Breastfeeding of a premature neonate born at 32 weeks gestation can be
accomplished if the mother expresses milk and feeds the neonate by gavage.
29. A mother who has a positive human immunodeficiency virus test result
shouldn’t breastfeed her infant.
30. Hot compresses can help to relieve breast tenderness after breastfeeding.
31. Unlike formula, breast milk offers the benefit of maternal antibodies.
Neonatal Care
32. The initial weight loss for a healthy neonate is 5% to 10% of birth weight.
33. The normal hemoglobin value in neonates is 17 to 20 g/dl.
34. The circumference of a neonate’s head is normally 2 to 3 cm greater than the
circumference of the chest.
35. After delivery, the first nursing action is to establish the neonate’s airway.
36. The specific gravity of a neonate’s urine is 1.003 to 1.030. A lower specific
gravity suggests overhydration; a higher one suggests dehydration.
37. During the first hour after birth (the period of reactivity), the neonate is alert
and awake.
38. The neonatal period extends from birth to day 28. It’s also called the first four
(4) weeks or first month of life.
39. A low-birth-weight neonate weighs 2,500 g (5 lb 8 oz) or less at birth.
40. A very-low-birth-weight neonate weighs 1,500 g (3 lb 5 oz) or less at birth.
41. Administering high levels of oxygen to a premature neonate can cause
blindness as a result of retrolental fibroplasia.
42. An Apgar score of 7 to 10 indicates no immediate distress, 4 to 6 indicates
