The practical nurse (PN) is caring for a client who has been diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus. Which complication should the PN recognize as the greatest risk to the fetus if euglycemia is not maintained?
Low birth weight.
Preterm birth.
Cleft palate.
Macrosomic newborn.
The Correct Answer is D
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. If euglycemia, or normal blood glucose levels, is not maintained during pregnancy, the fetus can be at risk for a number of complications. The greatest risk to the fetus in this situation is the development of a macrosomic newborn, or a newborn that is significantly larger than average. This occurs because the excess glucose in the mother's bloodstream is passed on to the fetus, leading to excessive fetal growth.
Macrosomia can lead to complications during delivery, such as shoulder dystocia, and can increase the risk of injury to both the mother and the baby. While low birth weight and preterm birth are also potential complications of GDM, macrosomia is considered the greatest risk to the fetus if euglycemia is not maintained. Cleft palate is not typically associated with GDM.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Repeated visits to multiple emergency departments for various injuries or complaints can be a red flag for possible child abuse. The other options may indicate other issues or concerns, but they do not provide as much reason to suspect child abuse as the history of repeated visits to different emergency departments. It is important for healthcare providers to remain vigilant for signs of child abuse and to report any suspicions to the appropriate authorities.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A positive indirect Coombs' test indicates that the mother has developed Rh antibodies against the baby's Rh-positive blood. This finding can result in hemolytic disease of the newborn, which is a condition in which the mother's Rh antibodies atack the baby's red blood cells, causing destruction and potential anemia.
The baby may require phototherapy for physiologic jaundice, but the Coombs' test result indicates a different issue.
The presence of an infectious blood-borne disease cannot be determined from this test.
The mother may still need Rho (D) immune globulin injections after delivery of an Rh-positive baby.
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