Post-term birth
Post-term birth ( 5 Questions)
A nurse is caring for a post-term newborn who has meconium staining on the nails and umbilical cord.
What is the most likely cause of this finding?
A bowel obstruction would not cause meconium staining of the nails and umbilical cord.
A congenital anomaly would not necessarily cause meconium passage or staining.
The newborn experienced fetal distress. Meconium staining is often caused by fetal hypoxia or other physiologic stress that triggers the fetus to pass meconium into the amniotic fluid before delivery. If the fetus aspirates the meconium, it can cause lung injury and respiratory distress, termed meconium aspiration syndrome.
An infection may cause fetal distress, but it is not the direct cause of meconium staining. Meconium staining may be a sign of infection in the newborn.
The newborn experienced fetal distress. Meconium staining is often caused by fetal hypoxia or other physiologic stress that triggers the fetus to pass meconium into the amniotic fluid before delivery. If the fetus aspirates the meconium, it can cause lung injury and respiratory distress, termed meconium aspiration syndrome.
Choice A is wrong because a bowel obstruction would not cause meconium staining of the nails and umbilical cord.
Choice B is wrong because a congenital anomaly would not necessarily cause meconium passage or staining.
Choice D is wrong because an infection may cause fetal distress, but it is not the direct cause of meconium staining. Meconium staining may be a sign of infection in the newborn.