Antepartum haemorrhage: practice question

A OBG question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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OBG · Antepartum haemorrhage

Sample item

A woman at 32 weeks has sudden painless fresh vaginal bleeding. The uterus is soft and non-tender, and the fetal heart is normal. What is the most appropriate next step?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Transabdominal ultrasound to locate the placenta

Painless bleeding in the third trimester with a soft uterus suggests placenta praevia. The placenta should be localised by ultrasound before any vaginal examination, because palpating a low-lying placenta can provoke torrential bleeding. Management then depends on the type, the gestation and the amount of bleeding.

Option by option

  • A. Immediate artificial rupture of membranes

    Rupturing membranes is not appropriate before the placental site is known.

  • B. Digital vaginal examination

    Digital examination can disturb the placenta and cause massive haemorrhage.

  • C. Transabdominal ultrasound to locate the placenta (correct)

    Correct. It safely locates the placenta and confirms the diagnosis.

  • D. Oxytocin induction of labour

    Induction before localising the placenta risks serious bleeding.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More OBG questions

Questions about this OBG question

What is the answer to this OBG question?

The best answer is C, Transabdominal ultrasound to locate the placenta. Painless bleeding in the third trimester with a soft uterus suggests placenta praevia.

Why is "Immediate artificial rupture of membranes" not the answer?

Rupturing membranes is not appropriate before the placental site is known.

Why is "Digital vaginal examination" not the answer?

Digital examination can disturb the placenta and cause massive haemorrhage.

Why is "Oxytocin induction of labour" not the answer?

Induction before localising the placenta risks serious bleeding.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Antepartum haemorrhage in OBG. The placenta should be localised by ultrasound before any vaginal examination, because palpating a low-lying placenta can provoke torrential bleeding. Management then depends on the type, the gestation and the amount of bleeding.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Antepartum haemorrhage?

Learn management algorithms as steps: PPH, eclampsia, ectopic pregnancy. Then use the flashcards and the other OBG questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.