A woman gives birth to twin girls, one of whom is stillborn.
Which nursing action would be least helpful in supporting the woman as she copes with her loss?

Physiologic jaundice is a common condition in newborns that occurs when the baby’s blood contains an excess of bilirubin, a yellow pigment produced during the normal breakdown of red blood cells.In the womb, the mother’s liver removes bilirubin for the baby, but after birth the baby’s own liver must take over this function.Because the baby has more red blood cells than an adult and their liver is still immature, they may not be able to process all the bilirubin and it may build up in their skin and eyes, causing a yellowish appearance.

Choice A is wrong because it is not an increase in neonatal metabolism that causes physiologic jaundice, but rather a decrease in hepatic metabolism of bilirubin.

Choice C is wrong because it describes a different type of jaundice called hemolytic jaundice, which occurs when there is an incompatibility between the blood types of the mother and the baby, leading to an immune reaction that destroys the baby’s red blood cells faster than they can be replaced.

Choice D is wrong because it confuses the reticuloendothelial system with the hepatic system.

The reticuloendothelial system is a network of cells and tissues that are involved in immune responses and phagocytosis (the ingestion of foreign particles or cells).

The hepatic system is the system of organs and structures that are involved in liver functions, such as bile production and detoxification.

Normal ranges for bilirubin levels in newborns are 1 to 12 mg/dL (17 to 205 micromol/L) for total bilirubin and 0.2 to 1.4 mg/dL (3 to 24 micromol/L) for direct bilirubin.

Physiologic jaundice usually peaks at 3 to 5 days after birth and resolves by 2 weeks of age.

It does not require treatment unless the bilirubin levels are very high or rising rapidly, which may indicate a more serious condition or a risk of brain damage.

Answer and explanation..

The correct answer is choice C. Jitteriness.Jitteriness is a sign of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) which is common in infants of diabetic mothers (IDM) because they have high levels of insulin in their blood that lower their glucose levels after birth.Hypoglycemia can also cause other symptoms such as seizures, lethargy, poor feeding, sweating, trembling, and pale complexion.

Choice A is wrong because abdominal distention is not a typical symptom of IDM.

It can be caused by other conditions such as intestinal obstruction or infection.

Choice B is wrong because high-pitched cry is not a specific symptom of IDM.

It can be caused by many factors such as pain, hunger, or neurological problems.

Choice D is wrong because excessive drooling is not a common symptom of IDM.

It can be a sign of oral problems such as teething or infection.

Normal ranges for blood glucose in newborns are 40 to 150 mg/dL (2.2 to 8.3 mmol/L).

IDM should be monitored closely for hypoglycemia and treated promptly with glucose if needed.