Question

Macrosomia, observed in a mother with poorly controlled diabetes, increases the risk of:

a) Low birth weight
b) Premature labor
c) Large birth weight
d) Genetic abnormalities

Answer 1

Macrosomia, often caused by poorly controlled diabetes in the mother, leads to larger birth weight as the infant receives excess glucose prompting increased insulin production.

Step-by-step explanation:

Macrosomia refers to infants with a significantly higher birth weight than the average for their gestational age, commonly defined as a weight over 4000 grams or 8 pounds, 13 ounces. In cases where the mother has poorly controlled diabetes, especially gestational diabetes, the baby may receive excess glucose through the placenta. This condition prompts the baby's pancreas to produce more insulin, which acts as a growth hormone, leading to larger birth weight. Therefore, macrosomia is associated with an increased risk of large birth weight (c) Large birth weight), not low birth weight, premature labor, or genetic abnormalities.