Question

OB case study :Nathan is a newborn of 37 week gestation, weight 9lbs, 1oz. His admitting nursery information indicates that his mother is a gestational-onset diabetic. What physical characteristics would you expect him to have?

Answer 1

The physical characteristics expected in Nathan (a newborn of 37 week gestation):

• Macrosomia: This term means that the baby will be larger than normal. This phenomenon occurs because all of the nutrients that the baby receives come straight through the mother's blood. Since the mother's blood contains elevated levels of glucose, the baby's pancreas produces more insulin. This results in fat formation
• Birth defects: in spine and brain, heart and blood vessels, digestive system, etc
• Jaundice: yellow discoloration of the skin caused by bilirubin present in the baby's blood

Step-by-step explanation: