Labor and Birth Process
Ch. 13: Labor and Birth Process
Page: 362
1. A woman in her 40th week of pregnancy calls the nurse at the clinic and says she's 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.”
Ans: C Response: 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. They are regular and become stronger over time; the woman may find it extremely difficult if not impossible to have a conversation during a contraction.
Page: 379
2. Which of the following would indicate to 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
Ans: A Response: Placental separation is indicated by the uterus changing shape to globular and upward rising of the uterus. Additional signs include a sudden trickle of blood from the vaginal opening, and lengthening (not shortening) of the umbilical cord. The fetal head at the vaginal opening is termed crowning and occurs before birth of the head. Expulsion of the mucous plug is a premonitory sign of labor.
Page: 371
3. When assessing cervical effacement of a client in labor, the nurse assesses which of the following characteristics?
A) Extent of opening to its widest diameter
B) Degree of thinning
C) Passage of the mucous plug
D) Fetal presenting part
Ans: B Response: 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 mucous
Page: 362
1. A woman in her 40th week of pregnancy calls the nurse at the clinic and says she's 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.”
Ans: C Response: 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. They are regular and become stronger over time; the woman may find it extremely difficult if not impossible to have a conversation during a contraction.
Page: 379
2. Which of the following would indicate to 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
Ans: A Response: Placental separation is indicated by the uterus changing shape to globular and upward rising of the uterus. Additional signs include a sudden trickle of blood from the vaginal opening, and lengthening (not shortening) of the umbilical cord. The fetal head at the vaginal opening is termed crowning and occurs before birth of the head. Expulsion of the mucous plug is a premonitory sign of labor.
Page: 371
3. When assessing cervical effacement of a client in labor, the nurse assesses which of the following characteristics?
A) Extent of opening to its widest diameter
B) Degree of thinning
C) Passage of the mucous plug
D) Fetal presenting part
Ans: B Response: 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 mucous