A nurse is assessing a newborn for signs of hypoglycemia.

Which of the following blood glucose levels, taken 1 to 2 hours after birth, would indicate hypoglycemia in the newborn?

The correct answer is choice D. 20 mg/dL.This is because a blood glucose level below 40 mg/dL is considered hypoglycemia in a newborn.Hypoglycemia can cause neurological damage and other complications in newborns.

Choice A.40 mg/dL is wrong because this is the lower limit of normal blood glucose level for a newborn.

Choice B.35 mg/dL is wrong because this is slightly below the normal range but not low enough to be hypoglycemic.

Choice C.30 mg/dL is wrong because this is also below the normal range but not as low as choice D. Normal blood glucose levels for newborns are between 40 and 150 mg/dL, depending on the time of measurement and the feeding status.Blood glucose levels are usually lowest 1 to 2 hours after birth and then gradually increase over the next few days.

The correct answer is

B. Need for induced labor or cesarean section.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a condition where the mother has high blood sugar levels during pregnancy.

This can affect the growth and development of the baby.

One of the possible complications of GDM is fetal macrosomia, which means the baby is larger than normal for its gestational age.Macrosomia is usually defined as a birth weight above 4000 to 4500 grams (or 9 to 10 pounds).

Macrosomia can cause difficulties during delivery, such as shoulder dystocia, which is when the baby’s shoulder gets stuck behind the mother’s pelvic bone.This can lead to injuries to the baby’s nerves, bones, or muscles, or to the mother’s vagina, uterus, or bladder.To prevent these complications, doctors may recommend inducing labor or performing a cesarean section (C-section) to deliver the baby safely.

The other statements are wrong because:

A. Increased risk of jaundice.

Jaundice is a condition where the baby’s skin and eyes turn yellow due to high levels of bilirubin in the blood.

Bilirubin is a waste product that is normally removed by the liver.Jaundice can occur in any newborn, but it is more common in babies with GDM because they may have polycythemia (too many red blood cells) or hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels) that can affect the liver function.

However, jaundice is not directly related to macrosomia and does not cause difficulties during delivery.

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C. Development of preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia is a serious condition where the mother develops high blood pressure and protein in the urine after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Preeclampsia can cause complications such as seizures, stroke, organ damage, or placental abruption (when the placenta separates from the uterus before delivery).Preeclampsia can increase the risk of fetal growth restriction (when the baby does not grow well in the womb), not macrosomia.

Preeclampsia can also cause difficulties during delivery, but it is not a result of macrosomia.

D. Higher risk of stillbirth.

Stillbirth is when the baby dies in the womb after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Stillbirth can occur due to various causes, such as infections, genetic abnormalities, placental problems, or umbilical cord accidents.Stillbirth can also occur in babies with GDM because they may have hypoxia (low oxygen levels) or acidosis (high acid levels) in the blood due to poor placental function or uncontrolled blood sugar levels.

However, stillbirth is not directly related to macrosomia and does not cause difficulties during delivery.