The best way to prevent hypothermia in a newborn at home is:

Skin-to-skin contact with the mother

Oil massage near an open fire each morning

Keeping the baby alone in a cot

A primigravida in the active phase has dilatation plotted to the right of the alert line on the partograph. This indicates:

Slow progress of labour needing closer assessment or referral

Fetal distress needing immediate delivery

Normal progress in a primigravida

Bearing down in the second stage should be encouraged when:

She is first admitted to the labour room

Secondary postpartum haemorrhage is excessive bleeding from the genital tract occurring:

After 24 hours and up to 6 weeks

Only after 12 weeks from the birth

Labour, puerperium and care of the newborn

50 Staff nurse recruitment practice questions on Labour, puerperium and care of the newborn, part of Midwifery and Gynaecological Nursing. The first 25 are below; the first 5 with answers and explanations (tap Show answer after you have chosen), the rest in Learn with a free account.

Question 1 · Medium
The best way to prevent hypothermia in a newborn at home is:
1. AOil massage near an open fire each morning
2. BKeeping the baby alone in a cot
3. CSkin-to-skin contact with the mother
4. DAn early bath in warm water
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Answer: C · Skin-to-skin contact with the mother
Skin-to-skin contact on the mother's chest, with a cap, socks and a covering over both, is the simplest way to keep a newborn warm. The baby is bathed only after 24 hours and kept with the mother. Hypothermia raises the risk of hypoglycaemia and infection.
- A: Open fires risk burns and smoke inhalation.
- B: Lying alone gives no body warmth.
- D: An early bath causes heat loss and is delayed 24 hours.
Question 2 · Medium
A primigravida in the active phase has dilatation plotted to the right of the alert line on the partograph. This indicates:
1. ASlow progress of labour needing closer assessment or referral
2. BFetal distress needing immediate delivery
3. CThe second stage has begun
4. DNormal progress in a primigravida
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Answer: A · Slow progress of labour needing closer assessment or referral
The alert line represents 1 cm per hour; a plot to its right means progress is slower than expected. At a peripheral facility the woman should be referred, and in a hospital the cause is assessed. Reaching the action line calls for definitive intervention.
- B: Dilatation shows labour progress; fetal distress is judged from the fetal heart.
- C: The second stage starts only at full dilatation.
- D: Progress slower than 1 cm per hour is not normal on the partograph.
Question 3 · Medium
Bearing down in the second stage should be encouraged when:
1. AShe is first admitted to the labour room
2. BThe membranes rupture
3. CThe cervix reaches 6 cm
4. DThe cervix is fully dilated
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Answer: D · The cervix is fully dilated
Pushing before full dilatation causes cervical oedema and tears and tires the mother. Once dilatation is complete and the head has descended, she pushes with contractions in a position she finds comfortable. Prolonged breath-holding is avoided.
- A: Admission may be in early labour, when pushing is harmful.
- B: Rupture of membranes may occur well before full dilatation.
- C: At 6 cm the cervix is not fully dilated.
Question 4 · Easy
In a newborn, the injection of vitamin K is given into the:
1. AAnterolateral thigh
2. BDeltoid muscle
3. CAbdominal wall
4. DGluteal region
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Answer: A · Anterolateral thigh
A term baby receives 1 mg vitamin K IM in the anterolateral thigh soon after birth, and a baby under 1000 g receives 0.5 mg. It prevents vitamin K deficiency bleeding, since breast milk is low in vitamin K and the gut is sterile. Record the dose on the birth record.
- B: The deltoid is too small in a newborn.
- C: The abdominal wall is not an intramuscular site.
- D: The gluteal site risks sciatic nerve injury.
Question 5 · Easy
Secondary postpartum haemorrhage is excessive bleeding from the genital tract occurring:
1. AOnly after 12 weeks from the birth
2. BOnly during the third stage
3. CAfter 24 hours and up to 6 weeks
4. DWithin the first 24 hours
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Answer: C · After 24 hours and up to 6 weeks
Secondary PPH is abnormal bleeding from 24 hours after delivery up to six weeks. It is most often due to retained placental bits or infection, commonly in the second week. The woman is examined, given antibiotics and uterotonics, and retained tissue is evacuated.
- A: Twelve weeks is outside the puerperium.
- B: Third-stage bleeding is a form of primary PPH.
- D: Within 24 hours is primary PPH.
Question 6 · Medium
The main advantage of the mediolateral over the median episiotomy is a lower risk of:
1. APain on healing
2. BBlood loss
3. CLater dyspareunia after the wound heals
4. DAnal sphincter injury
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 7 · Medium
A good attachment at the breast is shown by:
1. AChin held well away from the breast
2. BMore areola seen above than below the mouth
3. CLips turned inward over the gums
4. DFast shallow sucks with dimpled cheeks
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 8 · Easy
A mother asks whether to give honey or water to her newborn before the first breastfeed. The nurse advises:
1. ADiluted cow's milk for a day until her milk comes in
2. BNo prelacteal feeds; start breastfeeding
3. CBoiled water until milk comes in
4. DHoney only in small amounts
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 9 · Hard
Twenty minutes after delivery the placenta has not separated, there is no bleeding, and oxytocin was given at birth. The appropriate action is to:
1. APull hard on the cord to deliver it
2. BGive methylergometrine intravenously
3. CEmpty the bladder and retry cord traction
4. DStart manual removal of the placenta under sedation now
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 10 · Hard
A woman reaches 4 cm dilatation at 08:00, plotted on the alert line, and remains at 5 cm at 12:00. Her progress on the partograph is:
1. ABeyond the action line, so prolonged labour
2. BNot assessable without the fetal heart
3. CBetween the alert and action lines, so slow and needing review
4. DOn the alert line, so normal
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 11 · Medium
A term newborn becomes visibly yellow at 18 hours of age. The nurse should:
1. AReport it for serum bilirubin testing
2. BStop breastfeeding for two days
3. CGive glucose water feeds
4. DReassure that it is physiological
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 12 · Hard
A postnatal mother, day 3, is crying, cannot sleep and says the baby is not hers and that voices tell her the baby is evil. The priority nursing action is to:
1. AEnsure the safety of mother and baby and inform the doctor at once
2. BSeparate the baby and send the mother home
3. CAdvise her to sleep and review tomorrow
4. DReassure her that these are normal blues
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 13 · Easy
Of the 4 Ts of postpartum haemorrhage, 'tone' refers to:
1. AClotting disorders such as DIC
2. BTears of the genital tract
3. CRetained placental tissue
4. DPoor uterine contraction
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 14 · Hard
A newborn is still apnoeic with a heart rate of 50 per minute after 30 seconds of effective bag and mask ventilation. The next step is to:
1. ABegin chest compressions coordinated with ventilation at 3:1
2. BContinue ventilation alone and recheck after 10 minutes
3. CStop ventilation and give free-flow oxygen
4. DGive intravenous sodium bicarbonate
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 15 · Medium
In neonatal resuscitation, the first intervention for a baby who is not breathing after drying and stimulation is:
1. AAdrenaline through the umbilical vein
2. BBag and mask ventilation with room air
3. COxygen by a nasal cannula while waiting for gasping
4. DChest compressions
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 16 · Easy
Which sign is NOT part of the APGAR score?
1. AColour
2. BMuscle tone
3. CTemperature
4. DReflex irritability
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 17 · Medium
During kangaroo mother care, the father or another adult:
1. AShould only bottle-feed the baby with expressed milk
2. BShould wrap the baby in a blanket over clothes
3. CMay give skin-to-skin care when the mother rests
4. DMust never hold the baby
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 18 · Medium
During the first stage of labour, the fetal heart rate in a low-risk woman should be auscultated:
1. AEvery 5 minutes
2. BEvery 2 hours
3. COnly when the membranes rupture
4. DEvery 30 minutes
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 19 · Medium
Getting a postnatal mother out of bed early mainly lowers her risk of:
1. ALochia alba
2. BDeep vein thrombosis
3. CBreast engorgement
4. DPostpartum blues
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 20 · Easy
For AMTSL, oxytocin should be given within what time of the birth of the baby?
1. AWithin one minute
2. BAfter the placenta delivers
3. CWithin thirty minutes of birth
4. DAfter the cord stops pulsating
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 21 · Medium
In a term newborn, a blood glucose below which value is treated as hypoglycaemia?
1. A70 mg/dL
2. B100 mg/dL
3. C20 mg/dL
4. D45 mg/dL
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 22 · Easy
Colostrum is especially rich in:
1. ALactose
2. BIron
3. CFat
4. DSecretory IgA
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 23 · Hard
A low birth weight baby is fed expressed breast milk by paladai. On day 3 the plan is 90 mL/kg/day, feeding two-hourly, and the baby weighs 1.6 kg. The volume for each feed is about:
1. A18 mL
2. B6 mL
3. C24 mL
4. D12 mL
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 24 · Easy
As the head distends the vulva and stays visible between contractions, the nurse asks the mother to:
1. AHold her breath and push hard
2. BGet up and walk around
3. CPant instead of pushing
4. DLie flat with legs straight
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 25 · Hard
A baby born through thick meconium-stained liquor is crying vigorously with good tone. The nurse should:
1. AGive routine care and keep the baby with the mother
2. BSuction the trachea under direct laryngoscopy
3. CStart bag and mask ventilation at once
4. DWash the stomach with saline
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account

25 more Labour, puerperium and care of the newborn questions

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Study Midwifery and Gynaecological Nursing

Labour, puerperium and care of the newborn

The best way to prevent hypothermia in a newborn at home is:

A primigravida in the active phase has dilatation plotted to the right of the alert line on the partograph. This indicates:

Bearing down in the second stage should be encouraged when:

In a newborn, the injection of vitamin K is given into the:

Secondary postpartum haemorrhage is excessive bleeding from the genital tract occurring:

The main advantage of the mediolateral over the median episiotomy is a lower risk of:

A good attachment at the breast is shown by:

A mother asks whether to give honey or water to her newborn before the first breastfeed. The nurse advises:

Twenty minutes after delivery the placenta has not separated, there is no bleeding, and oxytocin was given at birth. The appropriate action is to:

A woman reaches 4 cm dilatation at 08:00, plotted on the alert line, and remains at 5 cm at 12:00. Her progress on the partograph is:

A term newborn becomes visibly yellow at 18 hours of age. The nurse should:

A postnatal mother, day 3, is crying, cannot sleep and says the baby is not hers and that voices tell her the baby is evil. The priority nursing action is to:

Of the 4 Ts of postpartum haemorrhage, 'tone' refers to:

A newborn is still apnoeic with a heart rate of 50 per minute after 30 seconds of effective bag and mask ventilation. The next step is to:

In neonatal resuscitation, the first intervention for a baby who is not breathing after drying and stimulation is:

Which sign is NOT part of the APGAR score?

During kangaroo mother care, the father or another adult:

During the first stage of labour, the fetal heart rate in a low-risk woman should be auscultated:

Getting a postnatal mother out of bed early mainly lowers her risk of:

For AMTSL, oxytocin should be given within what time of the birth of the baby?

In a term newborn, a blood glucose below which value is treated as hypoglycaemia?

Colostrum is especially rich in:

A low birth weight baby is fed expressed breast milk by paladai. On day 3 the plan is 90 mL/kg/day, feeding two-hourly, and the baby weighs 1.6 kg. The volume for each feed is about:

As the head distends the vulva and stays visible between contractions, the nurse asks the mother to:

A baby born through thick meconium-stained liquor is crying vigorously with good tone. The nurse should: