Question 1

The critical factor in attaining the age of viability is _____.
A) weighing at least 5 pounds (2.3 kilograms)
B) having adequate brain development
C) having functioning digestive and respiratory systems
D) surviving at least 28 weeks past conception

Accepted Answer

Adequate brain development is critical in attaining the age of viability as it is necessary for regulating life-sustaining functions such as breathing and heart rate. While a weight of at least 5 pounds is generally considered a marker for viability, infants born weighing less have also survived with advanced medical interventions. Similarly, survival past 28 weeks is an indicator of increased likelihood of viability but brain development and overall health are more important factors. Functioning digestive and respiratory systems are also necessary for survival but are dependent on brain development.

Question 2

A baby is assessed at one minute after birth according to the Apgar scale. Three of the five vital signs are good, but the baby is weak and inactive and grimaces. The two vital signs that the medical team is concerned about are _____.
A) muscle tone and heartbeat
B) respiratory effect and color
C) muscle tone and reflex irritability
D) reflex irritability and respiratory effect

Accepted Answer

The Apgar scale assesses five vital signs, which are heart rate, respiratory effort, muscle tone, reflex irritability, and color. Based on the scenario described, the baby has good heart rate and respiratory effort, but weak muscle tone, reflex irritability, and grimacing. The medical team is concerned about muscle tone and reflex irritability, which makes option C the correct answer.

Question 3

The Apgar scale is used at one minute and five minutes after birth to _____.
A) evaluate the newborn's sensory abilities
B) evaluate the health of the new mother
C) help the mother recover from childbirth
D) evaluate the health of the newborn

Accepted Answer

The Apgar scale is a scoring system used to evaluate the health of a newborn immediately after birth (at one minute) and again five minutes later. It assesses five factors: heart rate, respiratory effort, muscle tone, reflex irritability, and skin color. The score can range from 0-10, with 10 indicating the best possible health outcome for the baby.

Question 4

When healthy babies are born, they usually _____.
A) do not breathe on their own until the umbilical cord is cut
B) do not cry until the umbilical cord is cut
C) breathe and cry on their own immediately
D) breathe on their own, and cry when the umbilical cord is cut

Accepted Answer

Healthy babies are born with fully developed lungs and are ready to breathe and cry on their own immediately after birth. The cutting of the umbilical cord has no direct connection to the baby's ability to breathe and cry.

Question 5

Most births in the United States take place in _____.
A) birthing centers
B) hospital labor rooms
C) homes
D) pools of water

Accepted Answer

According to most recent data from the CDC, over 98% of births in the United States take place in hospital labor rooms. Choice A, C, and D are not as common for births in the US.

Question 6

Which step is usually done immediately after birth?
A) Mucus in the baby's throat is removed.
B) The baby is placed in an incubator.
C) Umbilical cord blood is drawn.
D) The baby is assessed for eye color.

Accepted Answer

Mucus in the baby's throat can make it difficult for the baby to breathe and should be removed as soon as possible after birth.

Question 7

An alternative to giving birth in a hospital is to arrange to give birth at home. In the United States, less than _____ of births occur at home.
A) 1 percent
B) 5 percent
C) 10 percent
D) 15 percent

Accepted Answer

In the United States, less than 1 percent of births occur at home. Home births are less common compared to hospital births, reflecting a preference or necessity for medical facilities and professional care during childbirth.

Question 8

On average, fetuses gain about _____ pounds during the last trimester of pregnancy, which brings the average birthweight to about 7.5 pounds.
A) 1.5
B) 2.5
C) 4.5
D) 6.5

Accepted Answer

Fetuses gain about 4.5 pounds during the last trimester of pregnancy, which is a significant portion of the weight gain during pregnancy, bringing the average birthweight to about 7.5 pounds. This rapid growth is crucial for healthy development.

Question 9

In a first birth, the average length of active labor is _____.
A) several days
B) about 14 hours
C) about 8 hours
D) about 2 hours

Accepted Answer

The average length of active labor in a first birth is about 14 hours. This phase can be shorter for subsequent births.

Question 10

Tina went into labor at her home. Joan arrived soon after and began to time Tina's contractions and give gentle massages. Joan assisted Tina and her partner when it was time to leave for the hospital and accompanied them through the birth process. Joan was Tina's _____.
A) postpartum nurse
B) doctor
C) couvade
D) doula

Accepted Answer

Joan's role in timing contractions, giving massages, and supporting Tina through the birth process indicates that she is a doula. A doula is a trained professional who provides emotional and physical support to a woman and her partner during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. A postpartum nurse would only provide care after the birth of the baby, while a doctor typically only attends to medical needs during the birth process. The term couvade refers to a cultural practice in which expectant fathers participate in rituals and experiences that simulate the physical symptoms of pregnancy and childbirth.

Question 11

Henry was just given the five-minute Apgar and his score was 4. This means Henry is _____.
A) experiencing good health
B) a slow-to-warm-up infant
C) in need of emergency medical attention
D) in average health

Accepted Answer

A five-minute Apgar score of 4 indicates that the infant is in critical condition and requires immediate medical attention.

Question 12

In the transition stage of labor, the _____.
A) cervix begins to dilate
B) baby's head moves into the birth canal
C) baby's head moves through the birth canal
D) placenta is delivered

Accepted Answer

In the transition stage of labor, the baby's head moves into the birth canal, indicating the final phase of dilation and the beginning of the baby's descent towards birth.

Question 13

At around 38 weeks after conception, the _____ starts the sequence of events that prepares the fetus for delivery and starts labor.
A) fetal brain
B) maternal brain
C) placenta
D) germinal period

Accepted Answer

The fetal brain produces hormones that initiate the process of labor and delivery, signaling to the mother's body that it is time to give birth. This is known as the fetal ejection reflex. The placenta plays a supporting role in labor by producing and releasing hormones that further facilitate the process. The maternal brain is not directly responsible for initiating labor, although maternal stress and other factors can indirectly play a role in triggering the onset of labor. The germinal period refers to the first two weeks after conception, and is not relevant to the question.

Question 14

The age of viability is the time when the preterm newborn _____.
A) might survive outside the uterus
B) begins to move
C) will be born without defects
D) has developed all of its major organs

Accepted Answer

The age of viability is typically considered to be around 24 weeks gestation, at which point the preterm newborn may have a chance of surviving outside the uterus with medical assistance. It does not necessarily mean that the newborn will be born without defects or that all major organs have fully developed.

Question 15

In the second stage of labor, the _____.
A) cervix begins to dilate
B) baby's head moves into the birth canal
C) baby's head moves through the birth canal
D) placenta is delivered

Accepted Answer

In the second stage of labor, the baby's head moves through the birth canal, leading to the delivery of the baby.

Question 16

What happens to the central nervous system during the fetal period of development?
A) It goes through a process of regeneration.
B) Synapses decrease in number.
C) It becomes active, regulating heart rate and breathing.
D) The number of neurons decreases.

Accepted Answer

During the fetal period of development, the central nervous system becomes active and begins to regulate essential functions such as heart rate and breathing. This is controlled by the brainstem, which develops early in fetal development. While synapses do decrease in number during early brain development, it is not a major change that occurs during the fetal period. There is no process of regeneration or decrease in the number of neurons during this time.

Question 17

Harry was a preterm newborn who was born after 26 weeks of prenatal development. He is now a healthy, happy 2-year-old. Harry's ability to survive after being born so early was due in part to his reaching the _____.
A) term of postnatal development
B) germinal period
C) neurogenesis point
D) age of viability

Accepted Answer

The age of viability refers to the point in prenatal development when the fetus has developed enough to potentially survive outside of the womb. This typically occurs between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation. As Harry was born at 26 weeks, his ability to survive can be attributed, in part, to reaching the age of viability.

Question 18

In the first stage of labor, the _____.
A) cervix dilates to allow passage of the baby's head
B) baby's head moves into the birth canal
C) mother experiences intense contractions
D) placenta is delivered

Accepted Answer

In the first stage of labor, the cervix dilates to allow passage of the baby's head.

Question 19

In the third stage of labor, the _____.
A) cervix begins to dilate
B) baby's head moves into the birth canal
C) mother experiences intense contractions
D) placenta is delivered

Accepted Answer

The third stage of labor is when the placenta (also known as the afterbirth) is delivered. This typically occurs within 5-30 minutes after the baby's birth. The cervix, baby's head, and contractions are all associated with the first and second stages of labor.

Question 20

A person who supports a mother through the birth process from early labor at home through delivery at home or in a hospital is called a _____.
A) humanitarian
B) doctor
C) postpartum nurse
D) doula

Accepted Answer

A person who supports a mother through the birth process from early labor at home through delivery at home or in a hospital is called a doula. A doula provides emotional, physical, and educational support during childbirth.

Quiz 4: Prenatal Development and Birth

The critical factor in attaining the age of viability is _____.

A baby is assessed at one minute after birth according to the Apgar scale. Three of the five vital signs are good, but the baby is weak and inactive and grimaces. The two vital signs that the medical team is concerned about are _____.

The Apgar scale is used at one minute and five minutes after birth to _____.

When healthy babies are born, they usually _____.

Most births in the United States take place in _____.

Which step is usually done immediately after birth?

An alternative to giving birth in a hospital is to arrange to give birth at home. In the United States, less than _____ of births occur at home.

On average, fetuses gain about _____ pounds during the last trimester of pregnancy, which brings the average birthweight to about 7.5 pounds.

In a first birth, the average length of active labor is _____.

Tina went into labor at her home. Joan arrived soon after and began to time Tina's contractions and give gentle massages. Joan assisted Tina and her partner when it was time to leave for the hospital and accompanied them through the birth process. Joan was Tina's _____.

Henry was just given the five-minute Apgar and his score was 4. This means Henry is _____.

In the transition stage of labor, the _____.

At around 38 weeks after conception, the _____ starts the sequence of events that prepares the fetus for delivery and starts labor.

The age of viability is the time when the preterm newborn _____.

In the second stage of labor, the _____.

What happens to the central nervous system during the fetal period of development?

Harry was a preterm newborn who was born after 26 weeks of prenatal development. He is now a healthy, happy 2-year-old. Harry's ability to survive after being born so early was due in part to his reaching the _____.

In the first stage of labor, the _____.

In the third stage of labor, the _____.

A person who supports a mother through the birth process from early labor at home through delivery at home or in a hospital is called a _____.