Question

A client with chronic hypertension and superimposed preeclampsia gives birth, at 39 weeks' gestation, to a D.pound, 1B.ounce infant. What condition does the nurse anticipate when assessing this infant?

A. Prematurity
B. Cardiac anomalies
C. Respiratory infection
D. Intrauterine growth restriction

Answer 1

The nurse should anticipate the condition of Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) in an infant born to a client with chronic hypertension and superimposed preeclampsia who is below the average weight for a full-term newborn.

Step-by-step explanation:

A client with chronic hypertension and superimposed preeclampsia gives birth at 39 weeks' gestation to an infant weighing less than the average full-term birth weight. The nurse should anticipate the condition of Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR).

The average weight of a full-term infant is approximately 3.4 kg (7.5 lbs), while a weight less than 2.5 kg (5.5 lbs) is considered low birthweight, often a result of IUGR. With hypertension and preeclampsia, the risk of developing IUGR increases due to potential placental insufficiency. If a newborn's birth weight is significantly below average, like in this case, it suggests that the baby has not achieved appropriate in-utero growth likely due to suboptimal conditions in the womb. Therefore, the nurse should anticipate the infant might be affected by IUGR, affecting their immediate and long-term health requiring careful monitoring and management.