Family Nurse Practitioner Exam

What is the risk factor associated with a woman who delivered an infant weighing 9.5 lbs?

1. Increased risk of hypertension

2. Increased risk of gestational diabetes

3. Increased risk of diabetes mellitus

4. Increased risk of thyroid disease

The correct answer is: Increased risk of diabetes mellitus

A woman who delivers an infant weighing 9.5 lbs is considered to have delivered a macrosomic infant, which is often associated with several maternal risk factors. Among these, an increased risk of diabetes mellitus is particularly noteworthy. Women who experience gestational diabetes during pregnancy are more likely to have larger babies due to elevated blood glucose levels, which provide excessive nutrients to the developing fetus, leading to increased fetal growth. This relationship indicates that having a macrosomic baby can be a sign of underlying issues such as chronic diabetes mellitus or may suggest a woman’s predisposition to developing diabetes later in life. Studies have shown that women who have delivered macrosomic infants have a higher incidence of developing type 2 diabetes years after delivery due to insulin resistance stemming from their pregnancy. While factors such as hypertension and gestational diabetes are important, the direct correlation between a large infant and the long-term risk of diabetes mellitus in the mother establishes that increased risk as particularly significant in this context. Thyroid disease, while it can have an impact on pregnancy and delivery, doesn’t have the same direct relationship to infant weight as does diabetes.