A 22-year-old primigravida visits the antepartal clinic in her third month of pregnancy. She has had diabetes mellitus for the past 7 years.
During the visit to the clinic, the nurse and patient discuss diabetes mellitus and pregnancy.Which comment by the patient would indicate a need for further instruction?

Physiologic jaundice is a common condition in newborns that occurs when the baby’s blood contains an excess of bilirubin, a yellow pigment produced during the normal breakdown of red blood cells.In the womb, the mother’s liver removes bilirubin for the baby, but after birth the baby’s own liver must take over this function.Because the baby has more red blood cells than an adult and their liver is still immature, they may not be able to process all the bilirubin and it may build up in their skin and eyes, causing a yellowish appearance.

Choice A is wrong because it is not an increase in neonatal metabolism that causes physiologic jaundice, but rather a decrease in hepatic metabolism of bilirubin.

Choice C is wrong because it describes a different type of jaundice called hemolytic jaundice, which occurs when there is an incompatibility between the blood types of the mother and the baby, leading to an immune reaction that destroys the baby’s red blood cells faster than they can be replaced.

Choice D is wrong because it confuses the reticuloendothelial system with the hepatic system.

The reticuloendothelial system is a network of cells and tissues that are involved in immune responses and phagocytosis (the ingestion of foreign particles or cells).

The hepatic system is the system of organs and structures that are involved in liver functions, such as bile production and detoxification.

Normal ranges for bilirubin levels in newborns are 1 to 12 mg/dL (17 to 205 micromol/L) for total bilirubin and 0.2 to 1.4 mg/dL (3 to 24 micromol/L) for direct bilirubin.

Physiologic jaundice usually peaks at 3 to 5 days after birth and resolves by 2 weeks of age.

It does not require treatment unless the bilirubin levels are very high or rising rapidly, which may indicate a more serious condition or a risk of brain damage.

The correct answer is choice B.“The placenta was blocking the opening of the womb.”

This statement shows that the patient understands that placenta previa is a condition where the placenta covers or is near the internal os of the cervix, which prevents a safe vaginal delivery.The patient would need a cesarean delivery to avoid bleeding and complications.

Choice A is wrong because it describes placental abruption, not placenta previa.

Placental abruption is when the placenta separates from the uterine wall before delivery, which can cause severe bleeding and fetal distress.

Choice C is wrong because it describes a normal position of the placenta at the top of the womb.

This does not interfere with vaginal delivery and does not cause bleeding.

Choice D is wrong because it describes placenta increta or percreta, not placenta previa.

Placenta increta or percreta is when the placenta grows too deeply into or through the uterine wall, which can cause severe bleeding and damage to the uterus and other organs.