Maternal and Child Health Flashcards

What is the normal fetal heart rate range?

Answer: 110–160 beats per minute

Normal fetal heart rate is 110–160 bpm. Bradycardia (160 bpm) may suggest maternal fever, fetal infection, or fetal distress.

Which sign differentiates true labor from false labor (Braxton Hicks contractions)?

Answer: Contractions that increase in frequency, duration, and intensity with cervical change

True labor is characterized by regular contractions that progressively increase in frequency, duration, and intensity, accompanied by cervical effacement and dilation. Braxton Hicks contractions are irregular, do not increase in intensity, and do not cause cervical change.

What does the APGAR score assess in the newborn?

Answer: Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration

The APGAR score assesses five criteria at 1 and 5 minutes of life: Appearance (skin color), Pulse (heart rate), Grimace (reflex irritability), Activity (muscle tone), and Respiration. Each is scored 0–2; total 7–10 is normal.

A pregnant patient is 38 weeks gestation and has a blood pressure of 158/105 mmHg with 3+ proteinuria. What condition does this indicate?

Answer: Severe preeclampsia

Severe preeclampsia is diagnosed when BP ≥160/110 mmHg with significant proteinuria after 20 weeks gestation. Gestational hypertension has no proteinuria; HELLP syndrome includes hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets.

What is the recommended position for a laboring patient with umbilical cord prolapse?

Answer: Trendelenburg or knee-chest position

Cord prolapse is an obstetric emergency. The knee-chest or Trendelenburg position uses gravity to shift the presenting part away from the cord, relieving compression. The nurse manually holds the presenting part off the cord while preparing for emergency cesarean section.

Which vaccine is recommended for all newborns within 24 hours of birth according to the Saudi immunization schedule?

Answer: Hepatitis B vaccine

The Hepatitis B vaccine is given at birth (within 24 hours) to prevent vertical transmission from infected mothers and to establish early immunity. BCG is also given at birth in Saudi Arabia for tuberculosis prevention.