Question

The nurse is caring for a newborn whose mother had gestational diabetes. His estimated gestational age is 41 weeks, and his birthweight is 4800 g. When assessing this newborn, the nurse should be alert for which of the following?

a. Fracture of the femur
b. Hypercalcemia
c. Blood glucose level less than 40 mg/dL
d. Signs of a congenital heart defect

Answer 1

The nurse should be alert for hypoglycemia in a newborn from a mother with gestational diabetes, which manifests as a blood glucose level less than 40 mg/dL requiring immediate attention.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse is caring for a newborn whose mother had gestational diabetes, and the newborn is of high birthweight (4800 g) and post-term gestation (41 weeks). Given these factors, the nurse should be particularly alert for hypoglycemia, which specifically refers to a blood glucose level less than 40 mg/dL in the newborn.

This alertness is due to the baby's increased insulin production in response to the mother's high blood glucose levels during pregnancy. After birth, as the high glucose supply from the mother suddenly ceases, the baby's own insulin may cause their blood sugar to drop too low, leading to neonatal hypoglycemia, which requires prompt assessment and management to prevent potential complications.