FAU Advanced Health Assessment Practice Test

During a physical exam, which sign may indicate subsequent pregnancies?

1. Chadwick's sign

2. Fairy ring

3. Hegar's sign

4. Fundal height

The correct answer is: Chadwick's sign

Chadwick's sign is a physical examination finding characterized by a bluish discoloration of the cervix, vagina, and labia due to increased blood flow and vascular congestion. This sign typically appears around six to eight weeks of pregnancy and suggests that the body is undergoing changes that support a developing pregnancy. The presence of Chadwick's sign can indeed indicate subsequent pregnancies, as it reflects hormonal changes and increased vascularity that occur with any pregnancy. While it may be present in a single pregnancy, it can also appear in women who have had multiple pregnancies, as these vascular changes can be more pronounced with each successive gestation. In contrast, Hegar's sign refers to the softening of the lower uterine segment and is also used to confirm pregnancy, but it is more focused on the state of the uterus rather than specifically indicating multiple pregnancies. Fundal height is a measurement used during pregnancy to assess fetal growth and development rather than specifically indicating the number of pregnancies, and the term "fairy ring" is unrelated to obstetric or gynecological examination. Thus, recognizing Chadwick's sign is significant in the context of identifying and confirming the changes associated with multiple pregnancies.