Maternal Complications Flashcards
6 cards from real Maternal Newborn Nursing Test practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Maternal Complications flashcards as text
A patient at 34 weeks gestation presents with a blood pressure of 158/106 mmHg, severe headache, visual disturbances, and 3+ proteinuria. What condition does this represent?
Answer: Severe feature preeclampsia
Blood pressure ≥160/110 mmHg with severe symptoms (headache, visual changes) and significant proteinuria meets criteria for preeclampsia with severe features requiring urgent intervention.
A patient with preeclampsia is receiving magnesium sulfate. Which assessment finding indicates magnesium toxicity?
Answer: Respiratory rate of 10 breaths per minute
Respiratory depression (rate <12) is a key sign of magnesium toxicity; the antidote calcium gluconate should be administered immediately to reverse the toxicity.
A patient at 38 weeks gestation has HELLP syndrome. Which laboratory finding is characteristic of this condition?
Answer: Hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets
HELLP syndrome is defined by its acronym: Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes (AST/ALT), and Low Platelets (<100,000/mcL), representing a severe variant of preeclampsia.
A patient is admitted with suspected placenta previa at 32 weeks gestation. She is experiencing bright red, painless vaginal bleeding. Which assessment is CONTRAINDICATED?
Answer: Digital vaginal examination
Digital vaginal examination is absolutely contraindicated in placenta previa because it can disrupt the placenta and cause catastrophic hemorrhage; diagnosis is confirmed by ultrasound.
A patient develops disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) following placental abruption. Which laboratory result is consistent with DIC?
Answer: Decreased fibrinogen, prolonged PT and aPTT, elevated D-dimer
DIC causes simultaneous clotting and bleeding, consuming clotting factors and platelets, resulting in low fibrinogen, prolonged PT/aPTT, elevated D-dimer, and thrombocytopenia.
A pregnant patient at 28 weeks is diagnosed with gestational diabetes after a 3-hour glucose tolerance test. Which dietary change is the first-line management?
Answer: Carbohydrate-controlled diet with 3 meals and 2–3 snacks
Medical nutrition therapy with carbohydrate counting (typically 45–60 g per meal, 15–30 g per snack) distributed across small frequent meals is the first-line treatment for gestational diabetes.