Anatomy and Physiology of Reproduction and Antepartum Nursing Care

Question 1

State the objective signs that signify ovulation.

Answer 1

Abundant, thin, clear cervical mucus; spinnbarkeit (egg-white stretchiness) of cervical mucus; open cervical os; slight drop in basal body temperature and then 0.5-1 degree F rise; ferning under the microscope

Question 2

Ovulation occurs how many days before the next menstrual period?

Answer 2

14 days

Question 3

State three ways to identify the chronological age of a pregnancy (gestation).

Answer 3

10 lunar months; 9 calendar months consisting of three trimesters of 3 months each; 40 weeks; 280 days

Question 4

What maternal position provides optimum fetal and placental perfusion during pregnancy?

Answer 4

The knee-chest position, but the ideal position of comfort for the mother, which supports fetal, maternal, and placental perfusion, is the side-lying position (removes pressure from the abdominal vessels [vena cava, aorta]).

Question 5

Name the major discomforts of the first trimester and one suggestion for amelioration of each.

Answer 5

Nausea and vomiting: crackers before rising; fatigue: rest periods and naps and 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night.

Question 6

If the first day of a woman’s last normal menstrual period was May 28, what is the EDB using the Nagele rule?

Answer 6

Count back 2 months and add 7 days; March 7 (always give February 28 days)

Question 7

At 20 weeks gestation, the fundal height would be ___; the fetus would weigh approximately ___ and would look like ___.

Answer 7

At the umbilicus; 300 to 400 g; a baby-with hair, lanugo, and vernix, but without any subcutaneous fat

Question 8

State the normal psychosocial responses to pregnancy in the second trimester.

Answer 8

Ambivalence wanes and acceptance of pregnancy occurs; pregnancy becomes “real”; signs of maternal-fetal bonding occur.

Question 9

The hemodilution of pregnancy peaks at ___ weeks and results in a(n) ___ in a woman’s Hct.

Answer 9

28 to 32 weeks; decrease

Question 10

State three principles relative to the pattern of weight gain in pregnancy.

Answer 10

Total gain should average 25 to 35 lb. Gain should be consistent throughout pregnancy. An average of 1 lb/week should be gained in the second and third trimesters.

Question 11

During pregnancy a woman should add ___ calories to her diet and drink ___ of milk per day.

Answer 11

300; 3 cups

Question 12

FHR can be auscultated by Doppler at ___ weeks gestation.

Answer 12

10 to 12

Question 13

Describe the schedule of prenatal visits for a low-risk pregnant woman.

Answer 13

Once every 4 weeks until 28 weeks; every 2 weeks from 28 to 36 weeks; then once a week until delivery