What is a sign that a newborn may be at risk for meconium aspiration syndrome?

Choice A reason:

Determining maternal well-being is not the purpose of the Bishop's score. The Bishop's score is a pre-labor scoring system to assist in predicting whether induction of labor will be required. It does not measure maternal vital signs, blood tests, or other indicators of maternal well-being.

Choice B reason:

Determining the readiness of the cervix for labor is the purpose of the Bishop's score. The Bishop's score gives points to five measurements of the pelvic examination: dilation, effacement, station, consistency, and position of the cervix. The higher the score, the more favorable or "ripe”. the cervix is for induction of labor.

Choice C reason:

Determining the progress of labor is not the purpose of the Bishop's score. The Bishop's score is used before labor begins to assess the likelihood of a successful induction or a spontaneous preterm delivery. It does not measure contractions, fetal descent, or other indicators of labor progress.

Choice D reason:

Determining the well-being of the fetus is not the purpose of the Bishop's score. The Bishop's score is a cervical assessment tool that does not directly evaluate fetal status. It does not measure fetal heart rate, movement, or biophysical profile.

Choice A reason:

Small for gestational age (SGA) newborns are at risk for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and respiratory acidosis because they have immature lungs that produce less surfactant, which is needed to keep the alveoli open and prevent atelectasis. SGA newborns also have less glycogen stores, which can lead to hypoglycemia and impaired oxygen delivery to the tissues.

Choice B reason:

Maternal history of asthma is not a risk factor for RDS or respiratory acidosis in the newborn. Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways that affects the mother, not the fetus. Maternal asthma can cause complications such as preterm labor, preeclampsia, or intrauterine growth restriction, but it does not directly affect the fetal lung development or function.

Choice C reason:

Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a congenital heart defect that causes a hole in the wall between the ventricles of the heart. This can result in increased pulmonary blood flow and pressure, which can lead to pulmonary edema and heart failure in the newborn. However, VSD does not cause RDS or respiratory acidosis, which are related to lung maturity and surfactant production.

Choice D reason:

Cesarean birth is not a risk factor for RDS or respiratory acidosis in the newborn. Cesarean birth can increase the risk of transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN), which is caused by delayed absorption of fetal lung fluid. TTN usually resolves within 24 to 48 hours and does not cause a significant acid-base imbalance in the newborn.