OB: Chapter 13 - Labor and Birth Process

22. During a follow-up prenatal visit, a pregnant woman asks the nurse, "How long do you think I will be in labor?" Which response by the nurse would be most appropriate? A. "It's difficult to predict how your labor will progress, but we'll be there for you the entire time." B. "Since this is your first pregnancy, you can estimate it will be about 10 hours." C. "It will depend on how big the baby is when you go into labor" D. "Time isn't important; your health and the baby's health are key."

A. "It's difficult to predict how your labor will progress, but we'll be there for you the entire time."

A pregnant woman comes to the labor and birth unit in labor. The woman tells the nurse, "Yesterday, I had this burst of energy and cleaned everything in sight, but I don't know why." Which response by the nurse would be most appropriate? A. "You had a burst of epinephrine, which is common before labor" B. "You were trying to get everything ready for your baby." C. "You felt your mind telling you that you were about to go into labor." D. "You were looking forward to the birth of your baby."

A. "You had a burst of epinephrine, which is common before labor"

A nurse is providing care to a woman in labor. The nurse determines that the client is in the active phase based on which assessment findings? Select all that apply. A. cervical dilation of 6 cm B. contractions every 2 to 3 minutes C. cervical effacement of 30% D. contractions every 90 seconds E. strong desire to push

A. cervical dilation of 6 cm B. contractions every 2 to 3 minutes

The fetus of a nulliparous woman is in a shoulder presentation. The nurse would prepare the client for which type of birth? A. cesarean B. vaginal C. forceps-assisted D. vacuum extraction

A. cesarean

A nurse is caring for several women in labor. The nurse determines that which woman is the latent phase of labor? A. contractions every 5 minutes, cervical dilation 3 cm B. contractions every 3 minutes, cervical dilation 6 cm C. contractions every 2 1/2 minutes, cervical dilation 8 cm D. contractions every 1 minute, cervical dilation 9 cm

A. contractions every 5 minutes, cervical dilation 3 cm

A nurse is providing care to a pregnant client in labor. Assessment of a fetus identifies the buttocks as the presenting part, with the legs extended upward. The nurse identifies this as which type of breech presentation? A. frank B. full C. complete D. footling

A. frank frank = buttocks first, feet up full/complete = fetus is cross legged footling = one or both week are presenting

A nurse is providing care to a client in labor. A pelvic exam reveals a vertex presentation with the presenting part tilted toward the left side of the mother's pelvis and directed toward the anterior portion of the pelvis. When developing this client's plan of care, which intervention would the nurse include? A. implementing measures for a vaginal birth B. preparing the client for a cesarean birth C. assisting with artificial rupture of the membranes D. instituting continuous internal fetal monitoring

A. implementing measures for a vaginal birth

The nurse is reviewing the monitoring strip of a woman in labor who is experiencing a contraction. The nurse notes the time the contraction takes from its onset to reach its highest intensity. The nurse interprets this time as which phase? A. increment B. acme C. peak D. decrement

A. increment

A nurse is preparing a class for pregnant women about labor and birth. When describing the typical movements that the fetus goes through as it travels through the passageway, which movements would the nurse include? Select all that apply. A. internal rotation B. abduction C. descent D. pronation E. flexion

A. internal rotation C. descent E. flexion

Assessment of a woman in labor reveals cervical dilation of 3 cm, cervical effacement of 30%, and contractions occurring every 7 to 8 minutes, lasting about 40 seconds. The nurse determines that this client is in: A. latent phase of the first stage. B. active phase of the first stage. C. pelvic phase of the second stage. D. early phase of the third stage.

A. latent phase of the first stage.

. A nurse is conducting an in-service program for a group of nurses working in the labor and birth suite of the facility. After teaching the group about the factors affecting the labor process, the nurse determines that the teaching was successful when the group identifies which component as part of the true pelvis? Select all that apply. A. pelvic inlet B. cervix C. mid pelvis D. pelvic outlet E. vagina F. pelvic floor muscles

A. pelvic inlet C. mid pelvis D. pelvic outlet The true pelvis is made up of three planes: the pelvic inlet, mid pelvis, and pelvic outlet. The cervix, vagina, and pelvic floor muscles are the soft tissues of the passageway.

A nurse is preparing a presentation for a group of pregnant women about the labor experience. Which factors would the nurse include when discussing measures to promote coping for a positive labor experience? Select all that apply. A. presence of a support partner B. view of birth as a stressor C. low anxiety level D. fear of loss of control E. participation in a pregnancy exercise program

A. presence of a support partner C. low anxiety level E. participation in a pregnancy exercise program

A nurse is describing how the fetus moves through the birth canal. Which component would the nurse identify as being most important in allowing the fetal head to move through the pelvis? A. sutures B. fontanelles C. frontal bones D. biparietal diameter

A. sutures Sutures are important because they allow the cranial bones to overlap in order for the head to adjust in shape (elongate) when pressure is exerted on it by uterine contractions or the maternal bony pelvis. Fontanelles are the intersections formed by the sutures.

A client is in the third stage of labor. Which finding would alert the nurse that the placenta is separating? A. uterus becomes globular B. fetal head at vaginal opening C. umbilical cord shortens D. mucous plug is expelled

A. uterus becomes globular

A woman telephones the prenatal clinic and reports that her water just broke. Which suggestion by the nurse would be most appropriate? A. "Call us back when you start having contractions." B. "Come to the clinic or emergency department for an evaluation." C. "Drink 3 to 4 glasses of water and lie down." D. "Come in as soon as you feel the urge to push."

B. "Come to the clinic or emergency department for an evaluation."

A nurse is conducting a continuing education program for a group of nurses working in the perinatal unit. After reviewing information about the maternal bony pelvis with the group, the nurse determines that the teaching was successful based on which statement by the group? A. The bony pelvis plays a lesser role during labor than soft tissue. B. The pelvic outlet is associated with the true pelvis. C. The false pelvis lies below the imaginary linea terminalis. D. The false pelvis is the passageway through which the fetus traverse

B. The pelvic outlet is associated with the true pelvis.

A nurse is providing care to a pregnant woman in labor. The woman is in the first stage of labor. When describing this stage to the client, which event would the nurse identify as the major change occurring during this stage? A. regular contractions B. cervical dilation (dilatation) C. fetal movement through the birth canal D. placental separation

B. cervical dilation (dilatation)

When assessing cervical effacement of a client in labor, the nurse assesses which characteristic? A. extent of opening to its widest diameter B. degree of thinning C. passage of the mucous plug D. fetal presenting part

B. degree of thinning Effacement refers to the degree of thinning of the cervix. Cervical dilation refers to the extent of opening at the widest diameter. Passage of the mucus plug occurs with bloody show as a premonitory sign of labor. The fetal presenting part is determined by vaginal examination and is commonly the head (cephalic), pelvis (breech), or shoulder.

A client is admitted to the labor and birthing suite in early labor. On review of her prenatal history, the nurse determines that the client's pelvic shape as identified in the antepartal progress notes is the most favorable one for a vaginal birth. Which pelvic shape would the nurse have noted? A. platypelloid B. gynecoid C. android D. anthropoid

B. gynecoid The anthropoid pelvis is favorable for vaginal birth, but it is not the most favorable shape. The android pelvis is not considered favorable for a vaginal birth because descent of the fetal head is slow and failure of the fetusto rotate is common. Women with platypelloid pelvis usually require cesarean birth.

A woman in her third trimester comes to the clinic for a prenatal visit. During assessment the woman reports that her breathing has become much easier in the last week but she has noticed increased pelvic pressure, cramping, and lower back pain. The nurse determines that which event has most likely occurred? A. cervical dilation B. lightening C. bloody show D. Braxton Hicks contractions

B. lightening Lightening occurs when the fetal presenting part begins to descend into the maternal pelvis.

A woman calls the health care facility stating that she is in labor. The nurse would urge the client to come to the facility if the client reports which symptom? A. increased energy level with alternating strong and weak contractions B. moderately strong contractions every 4 minutes, lasting about 1 minute C. contractions noted in the front of abdomen that stop when she walks D. pink-tinged vaginal secretions and irregular contractions lasting about 30 seconds

B. moderately strong contractions every 4 minutes, lasting about 1 minute

A woman in her 40th week of pregnancy calls the nurse at the clinic and says she is not sure whether she is in true or false labor. Which statement by the client would lead the nurse to suspect that the woman is experiencing false labor? A. "I'm feeling contractions mostly in my back." B. "My contractions are about 6 minutes apart and regular." C. "The contractions slow down when I walk around." D. "If I try to talk to my partner during a contraction, I can't."

C. "The contractions slow down when I walk around." False labor is characterized by contractions that are irregular and weak, often slowing down with walking or a position change. True labor contractions begin in the back and radiate around toward the front of the abdomen

Assessment of a pregnant woman reveals that the presenting part of the fetus is at the level of the maternal ischial spines. The nurse documents this as which station? A. -2 B. -1 C. 0 D. +1

C. 0

Assessment of a woman in labor reveals that the fetus is in a cephalic presentation and engagement has occurred. The nurse interprets this finding to indicate that the presenting part is at which station? A. -2 B. -1 C. 0 D. +1

C. 0

A nurse is conducting a class for a group of nurses new to the labor and birth unit about labor and the passage of the fetus through the birth canal. As part of the class the nurse explains that specific diameters of the fetal skull can affect the birth process. Which diameter would the nurse identify as being most important in affecting the birth process? Select all that apply. A. Occipitofrontal B. Occipitomental C. Suboccipitobregmatic D. Biparietal E. Diagonal conjugate

C. Suboccipitobregmatic D. Biparietal

The nurse is reviewing the medical record of a woman in labor and notes that the fetal position is documented as LSA. The nurse interprets this information as indicating which part as the presenting part? A. occiput B. face C. buttocks D. shoulder

C. buttocks

A client has not received any medication during her labor. She is having frequent contractions about every 1 to 2 minutes and has become irritable with her coach and no longer will allow the nurse to palpate her fundus during contractions. Her cervix is 8 cm dilated and 90% effaced. The nurse interprets these findings as indicating: A. latent phase of the first stage of labor. B. perineal phase of the first stage of labor. C. late active phase of the first stage of labor. D. early phase of the third stage of labor

C. late active phase of the first stage of labor.

A nurse is providing care to a woman in labor. After assessment of the fetus, the nurse documents the fetal lie. Which term would the nurse use? A. flexion B. extension C. longitudinal D. cephalic

C. longitudinal Fetal lie = long axis/spine 9can be longitude, oblique, transverse) Flexion/Extension = fetal attitude (position of body) Cephalic = fetal presentation

. A woman is in the first stage of labor. The nurse would encourage her to assume which position to facilitate the progress of labor? A. supine B. lithotomy C. upright D. knee-chest

C. upright The use of any upright position helps to reduce the length of labor

19. A nurse is assessing a woman in labor. Which finding would the nurse identify as a cause for concern during a contraction? A. heart rate increase from 76 bpm to 90 bpm B. blood pressure rise from 110/60 mm Hg to 120/74 C. white blood cell count of 12,000 cells/mm3 D. respiratory rate of 10 breaths/minute

D. respiratory rate of 10 breaths/minute