A nurse is preparing to administer intravenous glucose to a newborn whose mother has gestational diabetes and who has hypoglycemia.

The nurse should recognize that this intervention is necessary to prevent which of the following complications?

The correct answer is choice A.“I should check my blood glucose levels four times a day.” This statement indicates that the woman understands the importance of monitoring her blood sugar levels regularly to manage gestational diabetes and prevent complications for herself and her baby.

Choice B is wrong because drinking juice or soda can increase blood sugar levels and worsen hyperglycemia.Instead, the woman should drink water or sugar-free beverages if she feels thirsty.

Choice C is wrong because vaginal discharge or itching are not symptoms of hyperglycemia, but of a possible yeast infection, which can be more common in women with diabetes.The woman should report any signs of infection to her doctor, but this is not related to managing hyperglycemia.

Choice D is wrong because stopping insulin or oral medication after delivery can cause blood sugar levels to rise and increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future.The woman should follow her doctor’s advice on when and how to stop taking medication for gestational diabetes.

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