Inpatient Obstetric Nurse (NCC) Practice Exam

When a fetus is in the occipito-posterior position, it means that the back of the baby's head is facing the mother's back, which can lead to a more prolonged and complicated labor. One significant complication associated with this positioning is the higher risk of cesarean delivery.

This occurs for several reasons. First, the occipito-posterior position often results in a less efficient progress of labor, as the baby's head may not align properly with the birth canal during delivery. This can lead to factors like prolonged labor and inadequate contractions, which can ultimately necessitate surgical intervention if labor doesn't progress adequately or if fetal distress occurs.

Additionally, the abnormal positioning can lead to increased fetal heart rate decelerations, causing further concern for the health and safety of both the mother and the baby. As a result, if labor does not progress as expected, or if there are signs of distress, clinicians may be more likely to recommend a cesarean delivery.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately reflect the typical complications associated with the occipito-posterior position. For example, a shortened labor duration would be contrary to what is usually expected, and while there may be increased labor pain due to the less favorable positioning, it