A nurse in a provider’s office is caring for a client who is pregnant.
Which of the following assessment findings should the nurse report to the provider? (Select all that apply)

Choice A rationale
Increased deposits of fat in the chest and shoulder area are not typically associated with respiratory distress syndrome in a newborn. Macrosomic newborns, or those with a high birth weight, may have increased fat deposits, but this is not the primary cause of respiratory distress.
Choice B rationale
A brachial plexus injury is a type of birth injury that can occur due to difficulties during delivery, such as a prolonged labor or a breech presentation. It involves damage to the bundle of nerves that supply the arms and hands. However, it does not directly cause respiratory distress syndrome.
Choice C rationale
Increased blood viscosity could potentially contribute to respiratory distress, but it is not the most likely cause in a macrosomic newborn whose mother has poorly controlled type 2 diabetes. High blood sugar levels in the mother can lead to high insulin levels in the newborn, which is a more direct cause of respiratory distress.
Choice D rationale
Hyperinsulinemia, or high levels of insulin in the blood, is the most likely cause of respiratory distress in this case. When a mother has poorly controlled diabetes, the baby’s pancreas may respond to high glucose levels by producing extra insulin. After birth, the baby may have hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and increased red blood cell production, both of which can contribute to respiratory distress.

Choice A rationale
Estrogen is a hormone that plays a crucial role in pregnancy. It helps develop the placenta and triggers increased blood volume and flow throughout pregnancy. However, it is not the primary hormone responsible for maintaining pregnancy.
Choice B rationale
Oxytocin is a hormone that plays a key role in labor and breastfeeding. It causes contractions during labor and helps eject milk during breastfeeding. However, it is not the primary hormone responsible for maintaining pregnancy.
Choice C rationale
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone produced during pregnancy. It is made almost exclusively in the placenta and its main function is to maintain the corpus luteum in the ovary and stimulate it to produce progesterone. However, hCG itself is not the primary hormone responsible for maintaining pregnancy.
Choice D rationale
Progesterone is the primary hormone responsible for maintaining pregnancy. It prevents the uterine muscles from contracting prematurely, which could lead to a miscarriage or preterm birth.