Biology

Pregnancy and Childbirth

996 Questions

This hub covers essential biology questions on pregnancy, fetal development, and childbirth. Topics include the placenta, maternal physiology, and the stages of labor. These concepts are frequently tested in general science sections of various competitive examinations.

Placenta and fetal nutritionStages of laborMaternal immune systemPregnancy complications

Pregnancy and Childbirth Questions

Multiple choice

Which one of the following statements concerning the phospholipid antibody syndrome in pregnancy is true?  

  1. Women in pregnancy, with a history of serious thrombotic episodes and high levels of antiphospholipid antibodies, are treated with aspirin and low-dose of heparin.

  2. 95% of pregnant women with anti-phospholipid antibodies will suffer a miscarriage.

  3. Immunosuppression is used to reduce the level of antibody titres to achieve a successful pregnancy.

  4. Infants of mothers with antiphospholipid antibodies have congenital heart block.

  5. Antiphospholipid antibodies are present in 50-60% of all cases of deep vein thrombosis.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Such women are treated with aspirin and low-dose heparin - both in pregnancy and afterwards.

Multiple choice

Which of the following diseases in an infant is not a manifestation of maternal IgG antibody crossing the placenta?  

  1. Myaesthenia gravis

  2. Malar rash

  3. HIV infection

  4. Thyrotoxicosis

  5. Haemolytic disease of the newborn.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

HIV infection is due to transmission of the HIV virus, not the antibody. However, the presence of maternal anti-HIV IgG can lead to diagnostic difficulty. It is therefore necessary to confirm HIV infection in the newborn by the presence of viral DNA or RNA using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method.

Multiple choice

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune disease. Which one of the following statements associated with pregnancy in women with ITP is true?

  1. Twin pregnancies is more frequent.

  2. Neonatal ITP is seen in 80% of the neonates of women with ITP.

  3. In a mother with a previous history of an infant with neonatal bruising, it is not necessary to test the mother's serum against the father's platelets.

  4. Pregnant women with even mild ITP will suffer recurrent miscarriages.

  5. In a mother with a previous history of an infant with neonatal bruising, it is essential to test the mother's platelets for bound antibody.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

The mother might have subacute ITP or there may be alloimmune antibodies to platelet antigens (PLA).

Multiple choice

Which one of the following statement about maternal antibodies and recurrent abortions is true?

  1. Maternal HLA antibodies are produced in only 10% of pregnancies.

  2. Maternal HLA antibodies are associated with recurrent abortions.

  3. There are many causes of recurrent miscarriages and often a cause is not found.

  4. Maternal antibodies to the TSH receptors is a common cause of recurrent abortions.

  5. Sufferer of Thrombophilia.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

This statement is correct. About one woman in 100 experiences recurrent miscarriage. For a third of women who have recurrent miscarriage, no reason will be found. But, there can be problems that cause some women to miscarry again and again.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is correct about congenital diseases?

  1. They are present from birth.

  2. They occur after birth.

  3. They occur due to some infections.

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Congenital diseases are defined as conditions that are present at or before birth, usually resulting from hereditary factors or developmental issues during pregnancy.

Multiple choice

Which of the following placental types is/are human feature?

  1. Chorio - Allantoic placenta

  2. Deciduate placenta

  3. Haemochorial placenta

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Human placentas are classified as chorio-allantoic (derived from both membranes), deciduate (part of the uterine lining is shed at birth), and haemochorial (maternal blood directly bathes the chorionic villi). Since all these descriptions apply to the human placenta, the correct answer is all of the above.