Deck 28: Care of the Mother and Newborn

Question 1

What is the first secretion produced by the breast?

A) Prolactin
B) Colostrum
C) False milk
D) Whey

Answer 1

Colostrum

Question 2

A mother delivered her baby at midnight and it is now 9 a.m.She wants to sleep and asks the nurse to take care of the baby.What is this considered?

A) Fatigue from labor
B) Normal "taking in" response
C) Abnormal "taking in" response
D) Risk for altered maternal-infant bonding

Answer 2

Normal "taking in" response

Question 3

Within the first hour following a vaginal delivery,the nurse assesses the mother and finds the fundus is firm and there is a trickle of bright red blood.What should be the nurse's reaction to the assessment?

A) This is a normal occurrence.
B) This is abnormal and should be reported.
C) The patient should be administered a blood thinner.
D) The patient should be restricted to bed rest.

Answer 3

This is a normal occurrence.

Question 4

What is the name of the vaginal discharge that occurs immediately following delivery?

A) Lochia serosa
B) Lochia rubra
C) Lochia palatine
D) Lochia alba

Question 5

The new mother has decided not to breastfeed the baby.How should the nurse correctly instruct the mother to suppress her milk supply?

A) Pump the breasts to remove milk
B) Apply warm,moist compresses
C) Restrict oral fluids
D) Apply a firm bra and ice packs

Question 6

During the immediate postpartum period,the mother has a temperature of 100.2°F (37.8°C),pulse 52,respirations 18,BP 138/84.What should the nurse do?

A) Report the temperature as abnormal.
B) Continue to monitor every 15 minutes.
C) Report the pulse as abnormal.
D) Nothing as the vital signs are normal.

Question 7

When is breast engorgement most likely to occur?

A) When the infant's mouth surrounds the areola when feeding
B) When the breast tissue becomes congested
C) When the breast is emptied completely at each feeding
D) When the infant's mouth grasps the nipple firmly

Question 8

A new Native American mother tells the nurse that when she goes home,her mother-in-law will be caring for the baby while she rests.The nurse has concerns.What should the nurse do?

A) Explain the importance of ambulating to recover.
B) Explain the importance of maternal-infant bonding.
C) Explore ways to blend this with safe health teaching.
D) Encourage this cultural behavior.

Question 9

Before initially feeding an infant,what reflex should the nurse assess?

A) Moro reflex
B) Rooting reflex
C) Babinski reflex
D) Swallow reflex

Question 10

Which of the following would be considered a normal assessment finding in a 1-day postpartum patient?

A) Pinkish to brown lochia
B) Voiding frequently 50 to 75 mL of urine
C) Complaining of "after pains"
D) Fundus 1 cm above the umbilicus

Question 11

The postpartum mother with a third degree laceration tells the nurse she is afraid to have a bowel movement because of her painful episiotomy.What should the nurse do?

A) Offer a suppository or enema.
B) Encourage ambulation.
C) Offer stool softeners as prescribed.
D) Offer pain medication before defecating.

Question 12

What should be included in a teaching plan regarding breast engorgement?

A) It typically occurs on the first postpartum day.
B) It is usually first observed in the axillary region.
C) It occurs only in women who are not breastfeeding.
D) It occurs near the nipple on the third postpartum day.

Question 13

What is the term for the cream cheese-like substance that protects the infant's skin from amniotic fluid?

A) Lanugo
B) Meconium
C) Desquamation
D) Vernix caseosa

Question 14

A new mother had spinal anesthesia during a cesarean delivery.She now has a desire to void and can wiggle her toes.What should be the nurse's response when the mother asks to go the bathroom?

A) Assess her blood pressure.
B) Obtain a wheelchair.
C) Palpate her bladder.
D) Put slippers on her feet.

Question 15

What is the appropriate way to assess the fundus of the postpartum patient?

A) Using the side of one hand moving down from the umbilicus
B) Using one hand over the lower segment of the uterus
C) Using one hand pushing upward from the lower uterus
D) Using one hand on the lower uterine segment while the other hand locates the fundus of the uterus

Question 16

Following delivery of the newborn,which nursing intervention should be carried out immediately?

A) Weigh the infant.
B) Warm the infant.
C) Bathe the infant.
D) Inoculate the infant.

Question 17

The nurse identifies that the newborn is jaundiced within the first 24 hours of birth,with jaundice occurring over bony prominences of the face and the mucous membrane.What type of jaundice does this represent?

A) Physiologic
B) Normal
C) Pathologic
D) Transitory

Question 18

Which statement would be a correct description of colostrum?

A) Slightly yellow and low in protein
B) Slightly yellow and provides antibodies
C) Creamy and high in fat and protein
D) Colorless and high in fat and carbohydrates

Question 19

When assessing a mother 12 hours following the delivery of a baby,where should the nurse expect to palpate the fundus?

A) 2 cm below the umbilicus
B) At the umbilicus
C) 1 cm below the umbilicus
D) Halfway between the umbilicus and the symphysis pubis

Question 20

Where would acrocyanosis be assessed on a newborn?

A) Circumoral area
B) Brow
C) Feet
D) Mucous membrane

Question 21

Which of the following measures could help prevent infant abduction? (Select all that apply. )

A) Only transport infants by carrying them.
B) Require staff members to wear appropriate identification badges.
C) Respond immediately when an alarm sounds.
D) Never leave infants unattended at any time.
E) Take all the infants to their mothers at the same time.

Question 22

The nurse is caring for a newborn who was circumcised earlier in the day.What should be included in the plan of care?

A) Administration of a topical anesthetic to the site
B) Application of ice to stop bleeding
C) Retraction of any remaining foreskin
D) Observation for bleeding for the first 12 hours

Question 23

Why is vitamin K given by injection to the newborn?

A) Most mothers have a vitamin K deficiency that develops during pregnancy.
B) Bacteria that synthesize vitamin K are not present in newborns.
C) Vitamin K prevents the synthesis of prothrombin.
D) The newborn does not store vitamin K.

Question 24

The nurse describes the return of the postpartum patient's uterus to a pregravid state as ________________.

Question 25

Which finding should the nurse suspect as abnormal in the newborn during the initial assessment?

A) Eyes crossed at times
B) Persistent high-pitched cry
C) Arms and legs flexed
D) Slight bluish tinge of the extremities

Question 26

What is a characteristic of a normal breast-fed infant's stool?

A) Green and loose
B) Dark green and sticky
C) Pale yellow and frequent
D) Light brown and pasty

Question 27

A new mother asks for advice on how to quiet her fussy newborn.Which responses would be appropriate to suggest to the mother? (Select all that apply. )

A) Prewarm the crib sheets with a hot water bottle
B) Swaddle the newborn tightly in a receiving blanket
C) Place the baby in a larger crib or infant bed
D) Offer a pacifier or allow the infant to suckle at the breast
E) Take the infant for a ride in the car

Question 28

Which tests are performed to detect inborn errors of metabolism in the newborn?

A) Blood glucose
B) Phenylketonuria (PKU)
C) Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
D) Prothrombin time (PT)

Question 29

What should be included when discussing the care of a circumcised infant after discharge from the hospital?

A) Gently remove the yellow exudate from the foreskin.
B) Apply sterile petroleum gauze after each diaper change.
C) Wipe the circumcision with alcohol each day.
D) Avoid the use of cloth diapers until the foreskin has healed.

Question 30

Which newborn assessment finding can suggest a chromosomal disorder?

A) Epstein pearls
B) Gynecomastia
C) Babinski reflex
D) Simian crease

Question 31

The new mother tells the home health nurse that she is concerned about her 5-day-old infant's hard,dried umbilical stump.What time frame should the nurse give the mother for the umbilical stump to fall off? 10 to 14 ___________.

Question 32

The nurse is observing a new mother interact with her infant.Which observation would indicate that bonding is occurring? (Select all that apply. )

A) The mother is making eye contact with the infant.
B) The mother is sending the infant to the nursery for feedings.
C) The mother is cuddling with the infant and napping.
D) The mother is requesting that the mother-in-law change all diapers.
E) The mother states that her favorite thing to do with her baby is to breastfeed.

Question 33

The new mother calls the nurse to her room to show how her baby is "jerking around" when she changes his position.The nurse understands that the baby is exhibiting which normal reflex?

A) Traction reflex
B) Babinski reflex
C) Tonic neck reflex
D) Moro reflex

Question 34

After delivery of a 9-lb baby,the nurse assesses a perineal laceration extending through the muscles of the perineum.The nurse records this as a ________-degree laceration.

Question 35

The nurse is giving a bath demonstration for a group of new mothers.What should be included in the demonstration?

A) Apply baby powder generously to keep baby dry.
B) Cleanse perineum from front to back.
C) Use scented soap to make baby smell good.
D) Partially submerge head in water when shampooing.