A nurse is admitting a term newborn to the nursery following a cesarean birth. The nurse observes that the newborn's skin is slightly yellow. This finding indicates the newborn is experiencing a complication related to which of the following?

Choice A reason:

Placental insufficiency is a condition in which the placenta does not deliver enough oxygen and nutrients to the developing baby, resulting in restricted growth and development. This is one of the most common causes of SGA babies.

Choice B reason:

Primipara means a woman who is pregnant for the first time or who has given birth to one child. Primipara is not a cause of SGA, although some studies have suggested that first-time mothers may have a slightly higher risk of having a low-birth-weight baby than multiparous women.

Choice C reason:

Maternal obesity is a condition in which the mother has a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher before or during pregnancy. Maternal obesity is not a cause of SGA, but rather a risk factor for having a large-for-gestational-age (LGA) baby, which can lead to complications such as macrosomia, shoulder dystocia, and birth trauma.

Choice D reason:

Perinatal asphyxia is a condition in which the baby does not receive enough oxygen before, during, or after birth, causing hypoxia and acidosis. Perinatal asphyxia is not a cause of SGA, but rather a possible complication of SGA, especially if the placental insufficiency is severe or prolonged. Perinatal asphyxia can damage the brain and other organs of the baby and lead to long-term neurological impairments.

Choice A reason:

Maternal/newborn blood group incompatibility is the most common cause of pathologic jaundice, which appears within the first 24 hours of life. This occurs when the mother's antibodies attack the newborn's red blood cells, causing hemolysis and increased bilirubin production. The excess bilirubin causes the yellowish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes.

Choice B reason:

The absence of vitamin K is not related to jaundice but to hemorrhagic disease of the newborn. Vitamin K is essential for blood clotting and is given to newborns as an injection shortly after birth. Newborns are at risk of vitamin K deficiency because they have low levels of vitamin K in their bodies and breast milk, and their intestinal bacteria are not yet able to synthesize vitamin K.

Choice C reason:

Maternal cocaine abuse can cause many complications for the newborn, such as prematurity, low birth weight, neonatal abstinence syndrome, neurobehavioral problems, and congenital anomalies. However, it is not a direct cause of jaundice in the newborn.

Choice D reason:

Physiologic jaundice is a normal and benign condition that affects about 60% of term newborns. It occurs due to the immature liver's inability to metabolize bilirubin effectively. It usually appears after the first 24 hours of life and peaks around the third or fourth day. It does not require treatment unless the bilirubin level is very high or rising rapidly.