Emergency Obstetric Complications Flashcards
7 cards from real CPM practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Emergency Obstetric Complications flashcards as text
Which maneuver is the first-line intervention for shoulder dystocia?
Answer: McRoberts maneuver with suprapubic pressure
The McRoberts maneuver (hyperflexion of maternal thighs) combined with suprapubic pressure is the first-line intervention for shoulder dystocia, resolving the majority of cases without further maneuvers.
According to standard obstetric guidelines, postpartum hemorrhage is defined as blood loss exceeding:
Answer: 500 mL after vaginal delivery or 1,000 mL after cesarean
PPH is defined as blood loss greater than 500 mL after vaginal delivery or greater than 1,000 mL after cesarean section, or any blood loss causing hemodynamic instability.
A client at 38 weeks gestation develops sudden severe headache, visual disturbances, and epigastric pain at a planned homebirth. The MOST appropriate immediate action is:
Answer: Initiate emergency transport to the hospital immediately
Severe headache, visual disturbances, and epigastric pain together are warning signs of impending eclampsia, requiring immediate emergency transport to a facility capable of managing this obstetric emergency.
Uterine atony, the most common cause of postpartum hemorrhage, is best described as:
Answer: Failure of the uterus to contract adequately after delivery of the placenta
Uterine atony is the failure of the uterus to contract and retract after placental delivery, accounting for approximately 70–80% of all postpartum hemorrhage cases.
When a prolapsed umbilical cord is identified at a homebirth, the CPM's priority intervention is:
Answer: Elevate the presenting part off the cord and initiate emergency transport immediately
Relieving pressure on the prolapsed cord by manually elevating the presenting part while initiating immediate emergency transport is the priority, as this is a life-threatening emergency requiring emergent cesarean.
Which of the following presentations is MOST consistent with placental abruption?
Answer: Painful dark red vaginal bleeding with uterine rigidity
Placental abruption classically presents with painful, dark red vaginal bleeding accompanied by a rigid, board-like uterus due to retroplacental hematoma formation.
A client delivers a 4,300g infant and has excessive vaginal bleeding. Uterine massage reveals a firmly contracted uterus. The next priority assessment is:
Answer: Inspect the birth canal for genital tract lacerations
When the uterus is firmly contracted but bleeding persists, lacerations of the cervix, vagina, or perineum are the most likely source and must be identified and repaired.