A nurse is attending to a patient in labor who has received an epidural anesthesia block. The patient’s blood pressure reads 80/40 mm Hg and the fetal heart rate is 140/min.
What should be the nurse’s immediate course of action?

Choice A rationale
The term “effaced” refers to the thinning of the cervix, which is a process that occurs as labor approaches. However, the documentation “-1” does not indicate the degree of cervical effacement.
Choice B rationale
The term “presenting part is 1 cm below the ischial spines” would be documented as “+1” in a vaginal examination. This indicates that the presenting part of the fetus (usually the head) is 1 cm below the ischial spines, which are bony landmarks in the maternal pelvis.
Choice C rationale
The documentation “-1” in a vaginal examination refers to the position of the presenting part of the fetus in relation to the ischial spines of the maternal pelvis. A “-1” indicates that the presenting part is 1 cm above the ischial spines. This is a common finding during labor and does not indicate any abnormality.
Choice D rationale
The term “dilated” refers to the opening of the cervix. In the context of labor and delivery, the cervix dilates from 0 to 10 cm to allow for the passage of the baby. However, the documentation “-1” does not provide information about the degree of cervical dilation.

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.