A newborn is admitted to the newborn nursery with tremors, apnea periods, and poor sucking reflex.

A newborn is admitted to the newborn nursery with tremors, apnea periods, and poor sucking reflex.

The nurse should suspect:
A . Central nervous system damage
B . Hypoglycemia
C . Hyperglycemia
D .  These are normal newborn responses to extrauterine life

View Answer

Answer: B

Explanation:

(A) Central nervous system damage presents as seizures, decreased arousal, and absence of newborn reflexes.

(B) In a diabetic mother, the infant is exposed to high serum glucose. The fetal pancreas produces large amounts of insulin, which causes hypoglycemia after birth.

(C) Hypoglycemia is a common newborn problem. Increased insulin production causes hypoglycemia, not hyperglycemia.

(D) These are not normal adaptive behaviors to extrauterine life.