The nurse is providing client teaching regarding the administration of levothyroxine.
What is the nurse’s priority teaching point?

Choice A reason:

Injury sustained to the perineum during birth is not a perinatal injury, but a perineal injury. The perineum is the area between the anus and the genitals, and it can be torn or cut during vaginal delivery. This is a common complication that affects the mother, not the fetus or newborn.

Choice B reason:

Traumatic injury to the mother during pregnancy is not a perinatal injury, but a maternal injury. This can occur due to accidents, violence, or complications of pregnancy such as preeclampsia or placental abruption. This can affect the mother's health and well-being, and may also have consequences for the fetus or newborn.

Choice C reason:

Traumatic injury to a fetus is not a perinatal injury, but a fetal injury. This can occur due to external forces such as blunt trauma, penetrating trauma, or radiation exposure that affect the fetus in utero. This can cause fetal distress, bleeding, fractures, or organ damage.

Choice D reason:

Injury sustained surrounding birth is a perinatal injury. This occurs in the period shortly before, during, or after delivery. This can be a critical time when the baby has to transition from surviving off oxygen, blood, and nutrients from the mother to separating from the womb and breathing oxygen from the air. Perinatal injuries can include head injuries, nerve injuries, hemorrhages, fractures, or soft-tissue injuries that result from the forces of labor and delivery or medical interventions such as forceps or vacuum extraction. Perinatal injuries can lead to long-term neurodevelopmental challenges for the newborn.

Diaphoresis means excessive sweating, which is one of the symptoms of hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia occurs when the blood sugar level is lower than the normal range, which can cause dizziness, confusion, weakness, hunger, and other signs.

Choice B is wrong because flushing of the face is not a symptom of hypoglycemia.

Flushing can be caused by other conditions, such as fever, allergic reactions, or rosacea.

Choice C is wrong because fruity breath is a symptom of hyperglycemia, not hypoglycemia.

Hyperglycemia means high blood sugar level, which can cause the body to produce ketones that give the breath a fruity odor.

Choice D is wrong because unpredictable behaviors are not a specific symptom of hypoglycemia.

However, hypoglycemia can cause confusion, irritability, or anxiety, which may affect the behavior of some people.

The normal range of blood sugar level for most people is between 70 and 130 mg/dL (3.9 and 7.2 mmol/L) before meals and less than 180 mg/dL (10 mmol/L) after meals.

However, this may vary depending on the individual and the type of diabetes.

It is important to monitor the blood sugar level regularly and treat hypoglycemia promptly by eating or drinking a simple sugar source.