A nurse is conducting a prenatal class for women who have gestational diabetes.

The nurse should inform the women that having gestational diabetes increases their risk of having which of the following complications during pregnancy?

The correct answer is choice B. Second trimester.

Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar that develops during pregnancy and usually disappears after giving birth.It can happen at any stage of pregnancy, but is more common in the second or third trimester.This is because hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy can affect the body’s ability to produce enough insulin, a hormone that helps control blood sugar levels.

Choice A is wrong because gestational diabetes is less likely to develop during the first trimester, when the hormonal changes are not as significant.

Choice C is wrong because gestational diabetes is usually diagnosed and treated before the third trimester, to prevent complications for the mother and the baby.

Choice D is wrong because gestational diabetes is not a postpartum condition, although some women may have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life if they had gestational diabetes.

Normal ranges for blood sugar levels during pregnancy are:

• Before meals: 60 to 95 mg/dL

• One hour after meals: 100 to 129 mg/dL

• Two hours after meals: 70 to 119 mg/dL

The correct answer is choice C. The woman had no episodes of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia during pregnancy.This indicates that the interventions were successful in maintaining normal blood glucose levels and preventing complications for the mother and the baby.

Choice A is wrong because the woman gained less than 10 kg (22 lb) during pregnancy.

This is below the recommended weight gain range for women with gestational diabetes, which depends on their pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI).According to a study based on over 12 thousand participants, the ideal weight gain range for women with gestational diabetes was 10–15.9 kg for underweight, 8–11.9 kg for normal weight, 6–7.9 kg for overweight, and -5–3.9 kg for obesity.

Choice B is wrong because the woman delivered a baby who weighed 3 kg (6.6 lb) at birth.

This is within the normal range for birth weight, but it does not necessarily reflect the effectiveness of the interventions for gestational diabetes.A baby born to a mother with gestational diabetes may be at risk of being large for gestational age (LGA), which is defined as a birth weight above the 90th percentile for gestational age.LGA babies may have complications such as shoulder dystocia, hypoglycemia, and respiratory distress syndrome.

Choice D is wrong because the woman’s blood glucose levels returned to normal within six weeks after delivery.

This is a desirable outcome, but it does not indicate that the interventions were successful during pregnancy.

Gestational diabetes usually