Certified Midwife Exam Prep Postpartum Care & Newborn Assessment 2

Question 1

A postpartum patient on day 3 reports a temperature of 38.4°C (101.1°F). Which source of fever is most common in the first 24 hours postpartum?

Accepted Answer

Physiologic milk fever

Answer

A low-grade temperature spike in the first 24 hours postpartum is often attributed to physiologic milk fever or normal inflammatory response, not infection.

Question 2

Which clinical finding is most consistent with endometritis in a postpartum patient?

Accepted Answer

Uterine tenderness, fever, and foul-smelling lochia

Answer

Endometritis presents with uterine tenderness, fever, and malodorous lochia typically beginning 2–5 days postpartum.

Question 3

A breastfeeding mother at 2 weeks postpartum reports a red, tender, wedge-shaped area on her breast with fever and flu-like symptoms. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

Mastitis

Answer

Mastitis presents with a localized red, painful, wedge-shaped area, fever, and myalgias typically in the first few weeks postpartum.

Question 4

What is the recommended first-line treatment for mastitis in a breastfeeding patient without abscess?

Accepted Answer

Continue breastfeeding, antibiotics (dicloxacillin or cephalexin), and warm compresses

Answer

First-line treatment for mastitis includes continued frequent breastfeeding to empty the breast, oral antibiotics covering Staphylococcus aureus, and warm compresses.

Question 5

Which Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score threshold should prompt further clinical evaluation for postpartum depression?

Accepted Answer

≥10

Answer

An EPDS score of ≥10 is the commonly used threshold to prompt further clinical assessment for postpartum depression.

Certified Midwife Exam Prep Practice Test

Certified Midwife Exam Prep Practice Test

Certified Midwife Exam Prep Postpartum Care & Newborn Assessment 2