A nurse is assisting in the care of a newborn immediately after birth. At 5 min after birth, the newborn has acrocyanosis, flexed extremities, a grimace when suctioned, a heart rate of 130/min, and a lusty cry with tactile stimulation. What should the nurse document as the newborn's 5-min Apgar score?

Choice B rationale:

The correct answer is Choice B, which is "Newborn hypoglycemia.”. Newborn hypoglycemia is a potential complication associated with maternal gestational diabetes. When a pregnant woman has gestational diabetes, her blood glucose levels can be elevated, leading to increased insulin production in the fetus. After birth, the baby's insulin production continues at a high level, which can result in a rapid drop in blood glucose levels, causing hypoglycemia. This condition can be serious and requires close monitoring and timely intervention to prevent complications in the newborn.

Choice A rationale :

Placenta previa is not a complication associated with maternal gestational diabetes. Placenta previa occurs when the placenta partially or completely covers the cervix, which can lead to bleeding during pregnancy and delivery. However, this condition is not directly related to gestational diabetes, and there is no physiological rationale connecting the two.

Choice C rationale

Small for gestational age (SGA) newborn is not a direct complication of maternal gestational diabetes. SGA refers to babies who are smaller in size than expected for their gestational age. While poorly controlled diabetes during pregnancy can lead to large babies (macrosomia), it is not typically associated with small babies.

Choice D rationale

Oligohydramnios, which is a condition characterized by low levels of amniotic fluid, is not a common complication associated with maternal gestational diabetes. Oligohydramnios can be caused by various factors, but it is not specifically linked to gestational diabetes.

Choice A rationale:

Painless, bright red vaginal bleeding at 36 weeks gestation is indicative of placenta previa. Placenta previa is a condition in which the placenta partially or completely covers the cervix, leading to bleeding as the cervix begins to efface and dilate. The bright red color of the blood is due to its fresh origin from the exposed placental vessels. This condition is painless because the bleeding occurs without uterine contractions.

Choice B rationale:

Preterm labor is not the correct answer in this scenario. Preterm labor refers to the onset of regular uterine contractions leading to cervical changes before 37 weeks of gestation. In this case, the key indicator is painless bleeding, which is not associated with uterine contractions.

Choice C rationale:

Threatened abortion is also not the correct answer. Threatened abortion is the term used when a pregnant woman experiences vaginal bleeding, but the cervix is closed, indicating that there is still a chance for the pregnancy to continue. However, the bleeding in placenta previa is unrelated to fetal viability and is specifically caused by the placental position.

Choice D rationale:

Abruptio placentae is not the correct answer either. Abruptio placentae, also known as placental abruption, is a condition where the placenta prematurely separates from the uterine wall before delivery. This can cause painful bleeding due to the blood being trapped between the placenta and uterine wall. In the given scenario, the bleeding is described as painless, which does not align with the characteristics of abruptio placentae.