Deck 5: Birth and the Newborns Readiness for Life

Question 1

Vicki's newborn son is crying weakly in the delivery room.He appears to be quite limp and his extremities are blue.When a nurse checks his breathing,it is irregular.Based on this information,what is Vicki's newborn likely to score on the Apgar test?

A) 0 to 3 points
B) 4 or 5 points
C) 8 to 10 points
D) 15 points (or more)

Answer 1

4 or 5 points

Question 2

Janet has just been born.The doctor tells her parents that she has very high levels of stress hormones in her system.What does this mean for Janet's health?

A) Her lung function is decreased.
B) She has an increased chance of breathing normally.
C) Her heart function is decreased.
D) She has an increased chance of a heart failure or stroke.

Answer 2

She has an increased chance of breathing normally.

Question 3

Sam and Nina are in the delivery room,waiting for the birth of their first child.The doctor tells them that Nina is 5 centimetres dilated.Which stage of labour is Nina in?

A) first
B) second
C) third
D) indeterminate

Answer 3

first

Question 4

Which statement best describes the development of postpartum depression?

A) It is universal among new mothers, regardless of their prepregnancy moods or the difficulty of their pregnancy.
B) It is quite rare, and occurs only among women who experienced birth complications.
C) It is rare, and primarily occurs among women whose newborns died or have serious birth defects.
D) It is not universal, but is more common among mothers who were depressed or resentful prior to giving birth.

Question 5

Which stage of labour begins when the head of the fetus passes through the cervix and ends when the baby is born?

A) indeterminate
B) first
C) second
D) third

Question 6

What does the Apgar test assess?

A) structural abnormalities of the skeleton
B) the presence of sexually transmitted diseases
C) the infant's general physical condition
D) structural abnormalities of the brain

Question 7

Shannon and David are expecting their first child.David is in the military and has been stationed overseas.He is not sure that he can be there for the birth,and so his sister Lesley has volunteered to take his place if he cannot take leave.Based on research findings,what will be the impact of Lesley's presence?

A) Because Lesley is a close family member, and Shannon's trusted companion, her presence at the birth might be beneficial, but it is not essential.
B) Although Lesley is a close family member, without David present at the birth, the baby may have difficulty bonding to Shannon.
C) Although Lesley is a close family member, David's presence at the birth is essential if he and Shannon are to have a healthy relationship, and crucial to the baby's feelings of love and security.
D) David's and Lesley's presence or absence is irrelevant to the development of attachments to David as the father.

Question 8

Which of the following best summarizes the data regarding risks and benefits of home birth versus hospital delivery?

A) overwhelming support for hospital birth as the option of choice
B) a hospital birthing room as the option of choice
C) overwhelming support for home birth as the option of choice
D) positives and negatives for both options

Question 9

Roland and Marjory are in the delivery room and the doctor tells them their newborn daughter is fine.As their daughter is being cleaned,the placenta is expelled from the uterus.Marjory is in which stage of childbirth?

A) first
B) second
C) third
D) indeterminate

Question 10

Mark and Melanie are planning to adopt a high-risk,unresponsive infant.Their doctor suggests that they be trained in how to administer the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioural Assessment Scale.According to researchers,what will be the effect of this training?

A) It will have little, if any, overall impact on the infant's progress.
B) It might increase their confidence in their abilities to handle the job of parenting.
C) It would have a negative impact because it would show them how different from normal such an infant would be.
D) It should help Melanie become responsive, but it is unlikely to help Mark become more involved in caring for his infant.

Question 11

Alicia has just been born.When the doctor checks her physical condition after severing the umbilical cord,she receives a score of 3 on the Apgar test.Five minutes later,Alicia receives the same score.Based on this information,what is Alicia's doctor likely to do?

A) immediately call for emergency assistance
B) administer a Brazelton test to confirm Alicia's score on the Apgar test
C) administer a Bayley test for motor responses
D) place Alicia to her mother's breast and assist with the first feeding

Question 12

Which statement best summarizes the research findings concerning the effects of obstetric medications on the newborn?

A) They often produce physical malformations in the newborn.
B) They cause only short-term effects that are quickly overcome.
C) They can have both short- and long-term adverse effects on behaviour.
D) They can cause brain hemorrhage.

Question 13

Alex's wife is due to give birth any day now,and he doesn't want to be present because he is afraid he will pass out.He is worried that his absence will negatively impact his new child.Based on research findings,is Alex's presence necessary?

A) Although Alex's presence at the birth might be beneficial, it is not essential for his later relationship with his child.
B) Without Alex present at the birth, the baby may have difficulty bonding to him.
C) Alex's presence at the birth is essential if he and Veronica are to have a healthy relationship, and is crucial to the baby's feeling of love and security.
D) Alex's presence or absence is irrelevant to the initial bonding with his infant.

Question 14

Margaret's newborn son Ryan is crying loudly in the delivery room and has turned bright red all over.When the nurse attempts to extend Ryan's leg,the infant pulls away from him.Based on this information,what is Ryan likely to score on the Apgar test?

A) 0 to 3 points
B) 4 or 5 points
C) 8 to 10 points
D) 15 points (or more)

Question 15

Which statement best summarizes the research findings concerning prepared childbirth classes and father involvement in the birth experience?

A) beneficial but not essential
B) essential to delivery of a healthy baby and establishment of a strong father-infant bond
C) of no particular benefit or harm
D) of little effect under normal conditions but adds to the dangers of a high-risk pregnancy

Question 16

Which statement best summarizes the research findings concerning the presence of the mother's partner in the delivery room?

A) The partner's presence distracts mothers from their "job" and increases the length of labour.
B) The partner's presence helps partners feel more involved but does not have any particular benefits to the mothers.
C) The partner's presence has positive effects on the labour process for the mother and helps partners feel more a part of the family.
D) The partner's presence can be a negative experience for most partners that makes them less rather than more interested in their newborns.

Question 17

Which of the following is among the substantiated benefits of natural or prepared childbirth?

A) a dramatically shorter labour time for mothers
B) an absence of pain for mothers
C) a lower probability that babies will display birth defects
D) increased social support for mothers

Question 18

If a physician wanted to detect both subtle and severe behavioural or neurological problems in an infant,what would be the most appropriate test to use?

A) the Apgar test
B) the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioural Assessment Scale
C) the Wechsler Infant Attention Scale
D) the Bayley Scales of Infant Intelligence

Question 19

Which statement best summarizes the research findings concerning the effect of birthing method on infant outcomes?

A) Hospital births are clearly safer than home births.
B) All babies should be delivered at home.
C) Leboyer's "gentle birthing" procedure produces happier, healthier infants.
D) Risks associated with home delivery are low among healthy mothers who have received good prenatal care.

Question 20

Twenty-six-year-old Esther wants to have her baby at home.She is in excellent health,has had appropriate prenatal care,and has attended natural childbirth classes.She also will have a trained midwife attend the birth.According to recent research,is Esther's home birth risky?

A) It is very risky and should be avoided.
B) It is dangerous to both the mother and the infant; she should be at the hospital with her family.
C) It is not particularly risky for either the mother or the baby under the conditions listed.
D) It is likely to be very risky for the baby even with the precautions Esther has taken.

Question 21

Several programs have been developed to optimize the development of low-birth-weight infants by providing opportunities for the parents learn how to provide sensitive and responsive care at home.What has been the outcome of these programs?

A) generally positive results
B) Negative, as the infants become even more irritable and progress more slowly
C) little impact, positive or negative
D) very mixed, inconclusive results

Question 22

What is the most immediate threat to the survival of preterm infants?

A) respiratory distress syndrome
B) maintaining a constant body temperature due to lack of body fat
C) an increased risk of infection due to an immature immune system
D) susceptibility to sudden infant death syndrome

Question 23

Dana is in the first stage of labour and the doctor informs her that he is concerned because her baby is positioned with his buttocks down in her uterus.What risk factor is most likely motivating the doctor's concern?

A) anoxia
B) respiratory distress syndrome
C) sluggish uterine contractions
D) RH incompatibility

Question 24

When young infants sense that they may be falling,which reflex do they exhibit?

A) Moro
B) Babinski
C) rooting
D) ulnar

Question 25

Werner and Smith followed a cohort of Hawaiian children who had suffered complications at birth.What did they conclude after their assessment of the intellectual performance of this cohort at 10 and 18 years of age?

A) Adequacy of postnatal environment was more predictive of intellectual functioning than perinatal complications.
B) Perinatal complications were more predictive of intellectual functioning than was the postnatal environment.
C) Long-term negative effects on intellectual functioning were universal, regardless of postnatal environment.
D) Environmental adequacy and perinatal complications contributed about equally in predicting intellectual performance.

Question 26

Based on data collected during longitudinal studies,how do the intellectual abilities of low-birth-weight children compare to their average-birth-weight peers at 6 years of age?

A) They show no intellectual deficits, regardless of their home environment.
B) They show multiple intellectual deficits, regardless of their home environment.
C) They show intellectual deficits if they were raised in a low-SES home.
D) They show intellectual deficits if they were raised by a single parent.

Question 27

Which of the following is considered to be the greatest hazard for the infant during the birth process?

A) anoxia
B) that it takes place in a nonhospital setting
C) use of analgesics such as morphine
D) surfactin-induced respiratory distress syndrome

Question 28

What is the term for the intense interest in the newborn that is displayed by new mothers and their partners?

A) familial engagement
B) bonding
C) engrossment
D) engaged responsiveness

Question 29

Of the following newborn reflexes,which one is temporary and typically disappears after a few months?

A) swallowing
B) stepping
C) eye blink
D) pupillary

Question 30

Belinda was in a minor car accident and this triggered premature labour.She has just given birth at 10 weeks prior to her due date.Based on past medical experience,what will Belinda's doctor tell her regarding her infant's viability?

A) It is unlikely that her baby will survive.
B) Her baby will not only survive, but because she gave birth in a hospital setting he should suffer no long-term consequences..
C) There is a good chance that her son will survive, but he will probably have many complications during the first few weeks.
D) There is a small chance that the baby will survive, but if he or she does, there will be few, if any, further complications.

Question 31

What does follow-up of preterm infants during the first months at home indicate about their risk for child abuse?

A) They are at an increased risk for child abuse, compared to full-term infants.
B) They are at a decreased risk for child abuse, compared to full-term infants
C) They have the same risk for child abuse as full-term infants.
D) They have very high risk for child abuse, and the majority of preterm infants are abused.

Question 32

Which reflex is exhibited when young infants fan their toes in response to the sole of their foot being stroked?

A) Moro
B) Babinski
C) rooting
D) palmar grasp

Question 33

What is a strong risk factor for low birth weight?

A) RH incompatibility with the mother
B) the child was a member of a twin pair or set of triplets
C) the mother worked when pregnant
D) the mother experienced excessive nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy

Question 34

Which reflex assists the infant to feed?

A) Moro
B) Babinski
C) rooting
D) palmar grasp

Question 35

Imagine that your friend confides in you that she is feeling upset after the birth of her new baby.She complains that she has little energy to cope with the demands of the household and that her partner is becoming impatient with her behaviour.Despite the fact that she and her partner tried for some time to conceive,she wishes that she had never had a child.Based on what you have learned in the course,what would be your advice to your friend?

A) If the feelings are persistent, she should see her physician because she may have mild postpartum depression.
B) These feelings are quite normal, even if they continue for several weeks.
C) She should seek immediate help because she is seriously depressed and she is in danger of harming her baby or herself.
D) You should call a crisis intervention centre because she may be suffering from postpartum psychosis and needs immediate help before she harms her baby or partner.

Question 36

What defines a preterm infant?

A) one born more than three weeks prior to his or her estimated due date
B) one born smaller than expected for his or her gestational age
C) a newborn to 1-month-old infant
D) any infant at the moment that the first stage of labour begins

Question 37

What is the most serious problem facing most preterm or small-for-date infants?

A) difficulty in regulating body temperature
B) the inability to feed
C) respiratory distress syndrome
D) sudden infant death syndrome

Question 38

Jacqui has just given birth to a premature baby who weighs 750 grams.Based on past medical experience,what will Jacqui's doctor tell her regarding her infant's viability?

A) It is unlikely that her baby will survive.
B) It is very likely that the baby will survive because advanced medical treatment is available.
C) There is a small chance that the baby will survive but the baby will probably have many complications during the first few weeks.
D) There is a small chance that the baby will survive, but if he or she does, there will be few, if any, further complications.

Question 39

Catherine was born prematurely.Her doctor tells her parents that she is at high risk for complications due to her prematurity and that she needs to be carefully monitored for several months.What concern for Catherine's health is the most likely reason for the doctor's recommendation for long-term monitoring?

A) malnutrition due to an inability to suckle
B) irregular heart rhythms due to anoxia
C) respiratory problems due to immature lung function
D) RH incompatibility

Question 40

When Leonard's daughter was a newborn,he would go into the nursery and watch her with fascination,marvelling at her tiny size and her facial features.Based on this description,is Leonard's reaction typical of new fathers?

A) no, it is more characteristic of the reaction of a mother or grandmother
B) yes, because his baby is a girl
C) yes, it is a common one for both mothers and fathers regardless of the baby's sex
D) no, because newborns do not yet engage in smiling and other behaviours that elicit attention from parents

Question 41

Stephanie is lying in her crib; her eyes open and close frequently,looking dull,rather than bright when they are open.Stephanie's responses are generally slow,but when her father holds a bright red ball over the crib she becomes excited and more active.Before Stephanie saw the ball,what state was she in?

A) alert activity
B) alert inactivity
C) irregular sleep
D) drowsiness

Question 42

Michael is supposed to be asleep in his cradle.His eyes are closed and not moving.When Michael's babysitter checks on him,what should he assume about Michael's behaviour?

A) Michael is the victim of sudden infant death syndrome.
B) Michael is in a period of regular sleep.
C) Michael is pretending to be asleep.
D) Michael is in a period of alert inactivity.

Question 43

Compared with mothers who respond slowly to their infants' cries,mothers who are quick to respond in the first months of life tend to have infants who do which of the following?

A) cry less at 1 year
B) cry more at 1 year
C) have delayed language development
D) become more dependent and wary of strangers

Question 44

Paula and Frank are the excited new parents of a baby girl named Katarina.As typical new parents,they want to make certain that they keep Katarina as safe as possible.In order to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome,what should Paula and Frank do?

A) Make sure that Katarina's crib has soft bedding.
B) Wrap her in layers of clothing to keep her warm.
C) Choose to breastfeed her rather than using formula.
D) Place her on her stomach to sleep.

Question 45

What developmental outcome is indicated by an abrupt disappearance of the reflexes observed in seemingly healthy newborns across the first year of life?

A) The infant is neurologically normal.
B) The infant is neurologically impaired.
C) The infant may have a genetic disorder of the muscles.
D) The infant may have a genetic disorder of the skeletal system.

Question 46

Neonates spend about 70 percent of their time in which state of arousal?

A) crying
B) alert and attentive
C) sleeping
D) alert and inactive

Question 47

What did Ainsworth and colleagues find about older infants whose mothers who were quick to respond to their cries when they were very young?

A) They cried frequently, because they had been reinforced for crying.
B) They cried no more or less than infants who had been responded to less quickly.
C) They cried very little, because their mothers had also responded to noncrying modes of communication.
D) They never cried, because they had their mothers so well "trained" to attend to their needs that they no longer needed to communicate by crying.

Question 48

Alexis is a 1-year-old who still shows the Moro reflex,the palmar grasp reflex,and the stepping reflex in much the same way she did when she was a neonate.Based on these observations,what might a psychologist conclude about Alexis's development?

A) Alexis is developing normally, because these reflexes do not normally disappear until a child is nearly 2 years of age.
B) Alexis is advanced in her development because these reflexes have lasted so long, and indicate a greater responsiveness to her environment.
C) Alexis is delayed in her overall development because these reflexes should have disappeared by now.
D) Alexis is getting insufficient autostimulation during periods of alert wakefulness.

Question 49

What is the proposed function of crying?

A) It is the infant's way of venting anger or frustration.
B) It is the infant's way of signalling or communicating his or her needs to caregivers.
C) It is a clue that the parents have been spoiling their infant with too much attention.
D) It is an indication that the infant will soon fall asleep.

Question 50

According to recent research,respiratory apnea is cited as the major causal factor for which infant disorder?

A) respiratory distress syndrome
B) REM sleep disorder
C) persistent drowsy disorder
D) sudden infant death syndrome

Question 51

If the autostimulation theory of REM sleep is correct,as infants become more alert and spend less time sleeping,what should happen to REM activity?

A) It should fluctuate erratically and then stabilize.
B) It should fluctuate erratically and then disappear completely.
C) It should increase in proportion to waking hours.
D) It should decrease in proportion to waking hours.

Question 52

What can be indicated by a young infant's cry that is unusually high pitched,nonrhythmic,and aversive?

A) It may signal that the infant is brain damaged or malnourished and should be carefully assessed.
B) It reflects individual differences in the vocal quality of cries.
C) It is a sign that the parents are spoiling the infant by being too responsive to crying.
D) It is a sign that the infant is either hungry or in pain.

Question 53

According to autostimulation theory,what will an infant do when he or she experiences a visually stimulating environment?

A) cry less frequently
B) cry more frequently
C) spend more time in REM sleep afterward
D) spend more time in non-REM sleep afterward

Question 54

Suppose that you observe a sleeping newborn who is breathing irregularly and grimacing.The infant's eyes flutter open and move beneath the eyelids.Based on this information,is this infant's behaviour typical?

A) no, it is evidence of immature neurological development
B) yes, it is characteristic of the brief period just before waking
C) yes, it indicates normative sleep behaviour
D) no, it is predictive of gifted intelligence in toddlerhood

Question 55

Under typical circumstances,what happens to the primitive reflexes,such as the palmar grasp?

A) They are present at birth and then disappear within a few months after birth.
B) They are present at birth and do not disappear until a child reaches preschool age.
C) They are not present at birth and appear sometime in the first 3-6 months; disappearing by 1 year of age.
D) They are present at birth and never disappear.

Question 56

Of the following,which one is a permanent,life-long reflex?

A) stepping
B) swallowing
C) Moro
D) Babinski

Question 57

Why are some reflexes termed primitive?

A) They offer protection against aversive stimuli.
B) They have clear adaptive value.
C) They are controlled by subcortical areas of the brain.
D) They are basic, simple responses that serve as the foundation for later-developing behaviours.

Question 58

Belinda is a new mom who is convinced that her 1-month-old son is developmentally delayed.She shows you that when she strokes the bottom of his foot,his toes fan out and curl up.Belinda asks you if she should call her pediatrician to voice her concerns.Based upon what you have learned in this course,what would be your advice?

A) to call the pediatrician right away because this response is evidence of spinal cord damage
B) to be unconcerned because this is a normal response known as the Babinski reflex
C) to call the pediatrician right away because this response is an early indicator of cerebral palsy
D) to be unconcerned because this is a normal response known as the Moro reflex

Question 59

Dan's son is a neonate.When Dan goes into his son's bedroom to pick him up from his crib,he discovers he is lying quietly with his eyes wide open.He is intently watching his mobile,and seems to be fascinated by it.From this description,what state is Dan's son exhibiting?

A) alert activity
B) drowsiness
C) alert inactivity
D) sleepiness

Question 60

In which state of arousal does the typical newborn spend the largest proportion of time?

A) irregular sleep
B) crying
C) alert inactivity
D) drowsy

Question 61

Outline the developmental changes that occur in an infant's sleep patterns during the first six months.

Question 62

Explain the distinction between preterm and small-for-gestational-age infants.

Question 63

One potential birth complication is anoxia.Define anoxia and identify three conditions that might produce anoxia.

Question 64

Discuss how the four central developmental themes of the text relate to the issue of birth.

Question 65

Identify the six states that occur in newborns and indicate approximately how many hours are spent in each state during a typical day.

Question 66

Describe postpartum depression and identify the factors that are associated with this disorder.

Question 67

Explain the difference between survival reflexes and primitive reflexes,and identify two infant reflexes that would fall into each of these categories.

Question 68

List and describe,in detail,the major events of the three stages of childbirth.

Question 69

Explain how the Apgar test is used to assess a newborn's general physical condition and indicate the score that would be recorded for each of the following newborns: (1)Baby P has no pulse,and is not breathing.The infant is extremely pale and is limp.(2)Baby R has a slow pulse and irregular breathing.The infant has weak muscle tone with no reflex response,and the extremities are blue.(3)Baby H is crying and active.The baby is completely pink and the heart rate is 120 beats/minute.

Question 70

Discuss what research has shown with respect to the long-term impact of early emotional bonding between the newborn and the parents.

Question 71

Identify some of the short-term and long-term consequences of low birth weight.

Question 72

Explain how the Neonatal Behavioural Assessment Scale (NBAS)differs from the Apgar test.

Question 73

Outline two techniques to soothe a crying infant and provide a rationale for your choices.

Question 74

Describe two alternatives to a standard hospital birth.

Question 75

Brazelton training is for parents whose infants score low on the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioural Assessment Scale.Characterize these infants and summarize what happens in Brazelton training.

Question 76

Johanna has six older sisters and four older brothers.Every time Johanna cries,one of her parents or siblings picks her up and holds her,walking her around,and talking to her.According to researchers,how will Johanna's behaviour change by being picked up so often?

A) She will become spoiled.
B) She will begin to cry more often to get attention.
C) She will learn more about her environment.
D) She will be a clingy temperamental toddler.

Question 77

Contemporary research indicates that the short-term effects of perinatal complications such as low birth weight can typically be overcome by environment.Discuss what aspects of environment have been found to be effective in this respect.

Question 78

What are the pros and cons associated with administering medications to the mother during the birth process?

Question 79

Joe and Nikki have a daughter whose cries seem particularly irritating.Her cries are high pitched and shrill,they don't follow any sort of pattern or rhythm,and they sound sickly.As responsive parents,they have tried many methods to alter the characteristics of her crying but nothing has worked.Should Joe and Nikki be concerned?

A) yes, because those characteristics often indicate problems with future cognitive development
B) yes, because this pattern of crying may be a precursor to sudden infant death syndrome
C) no, because the characteristics of crying are highly individualistic
D) no, because there is little research support for a parent's interpretation of the quality of an infant's cries

Question 80

Briefly discuss natural or prepared childbirth,and home delivery,noting the advantages and disadvantages of each.