Question

In her 36th week of gestation, a client with type 1 diabetes has a 9-pound, 10-ounce infant by cesarean birth. For which condition should the nurse monitor when caring for this infant of a diabetic mother (IDM)?

A. Meconium ileus
B. Physiologic jaundice
C. Respiratory distress syndrome
D. Increased intracranial pressure

Answer 1

The nurse should monitor an infant of a diabetic mother for Respiratory distress syndrome, as high maternal blood sugar levels can delay surfactant production in the fetus.

Step-by-step explanation:

In her 36th week of gestation, a client with type 1 diabetes has a 9-pound, 10-ounce infant by cesarean birth. For which condition should the nurse monitor when caring for this infant of a diabetic mother (IDM)? The nurse should monitor for condition C) Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Infants of diabetic mothers are at a higher risk for RDS due to various factors, including delayed fetal lung maturity. One of the critical substances needed for lung function at birth is surfactant, which is produced by the fetal lungs and is essential to keep the alveoli open for efficient gas exchange. Mothers with diabetes can have high blood sugar levels, which can delay surfactant production in the fetus, consequently increasing the risk for RDS.