What are the nursing interventions for a newborn with hypoglycemia?
However, when faced with an at-risk or symptomatic newborn, treatment strategies for hypoglycemia aim to normalize blood glucose levels. These strategies include enteral feedings, especially more frequent breastfeeding, intravenous (IV) glucose infusion, and pharmacotherapy.
Can breastfed babies have low blood sugar?
This low blood sugar is normal and not problematic for healthy term breastfed infants without risk factors for hypoglycemia because they have the physiologic resources to generate and rely on ketones as an alternative energy source during the first few days, just like we all do when fasting all night.
What can the nurse do for a patient with hypoglycemia?
Severe hypoglycemia can be treated with intravenous (IV) dextrose followed by infusion of glucose. For conscious patients able to take oral (PO) medications, readily absorbable carbohydrate sources (such as fruit juice) should be given.
What is the first action taken by a nurse caring for a newborn with suspected hypoglycemia?
What is the first action taken by a nurse caring for a newborn with suspected hypoglycemia? Perform a heel stick to obtain a blood sample for testing for glucose level. A nurse does an initial assessment on a newborn and notes a pulsation over the anterior fontanelle that corresponds with the newborn’s heart rate.
How can I increase my newborn’s blood sugar?
Infants with a low blood sugar level will need to receive extra feedings with mother’s milk or formula. Babies who are breast-fed may need to receive extra formula if the mother is not able to produce enough milk. (Hand expression and massage can help mothers express more milk.)
How can I raise my newborn’s blood sugar?
Sometimes a sugar gel may be given by mouth temporarily if there is not enough milk. The infant may need a sugar solution given through a vein (intravenously) if unable to eat by mouth, or if the blood sugar level is very low. Treatment will be continued until the baby can maintain blood sugar level.
How do you prevent hypoglycemia in newborns?
In many cases, there may not be a way to prevent hypoglycemia in a newborn baby. For a baby with risk factors, healthcare providers will need to watch carefully for the signs and start treatment as soon as possible. Mothers with diabetes should keep their blood glucose levels in a normal range during pregnancy.
How do you manage hypoglycaemia in nursing times?
Management of hypoglycaemia The aim of treatment is to bring the blood glucose level rapidly back up to target before neuroglycopenic effects occur, but without overcompensating and causing high blood glucose levels afterwards. Approximately 15-20g of rapid-acting carbohydrate should be taken orally.
How can I raise my blood sugar quickly while breastfeeding?
Eat or drink 15 to 20 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates. These are sugary foods or drinks without protein or fat that are easily converted to sugar in the body. Try glucose tablets or gel, fruit juice, regular (not diet) soda, honey, or sugary candy.
How do you correct hypoglycemia in infants?
Treatment includes giving the baby a fast-acting source of glucose. This may be as simple as a glucose and water mixture or formula as an early feeding. Or your baby may need glucose given through an IV. The baby’s blood glucose levels are checked after treatment to see if the hypoglycemia occurs again.
How can the nurse be instrumental in preventing hypoglycemia in the newborn?
Hypoglycemia in breastfed newborns can be prevented or greatly reduced by hospital policies that support breastfeeding:
- Breastfeeding within an hour of birth.
- Skin-to-skin contact between mother and newborn to prevent cold stress and use of glucose stores.
- Breastfeeding eight to twelve times per day.
How serious is low blood sugar in newborns?
A newborn’s brain relies on glucose to fuel development. Low blood glucose levels (hypoglycemia) at birth have been associated with brain injury and intellectual and developmental disabilities. Infants are typically screened at birth for low blood glucose, which is common and easily treated.
When is hypoglycemia an emergency?
If your blood sugar drops to 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or lower, it’s known as hypoglycemia. If left untreated, this condition can cause disorientation, seizures, loss of consciousness, and even death.
How do you fix hypoglycaemia?
IV dextrose is the best treatment for inpatients and for patients found by emergency medical services personnel. IV dextrose is available in different concentrations. Concentrated IV dextrose 50% (D50W) is most appropriate for severe hypoglycemia, providing 25 g of dextrose in a standard 50-mL bag.
When and how do nurses correct hypoglycemia?
Treatment is glucose (modality will vary based on blood glucose level, alertness of patient, and facility protocol) 15 g carbohydrate is equal to 4 oz juice, 8 oz skim milk, or 6 saltine crackers. Recheck blood sugar after 15 minutes and repeat as necessary.
What causes persistent hypoglycemia in newborns?
Growth hormone or cortisol deficiency inhibits production of hepatic glucose, which will also cause hypoglycemia. The leading cause of persistent neonatal hypoglycemia, defined as hypoglycemia beyond the first 48 hours of life, is hyperinsulinism.
What is the new hypoglycemia protocol for breastfeeding infants?
The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine’s recently updated hypoglycemia protocol concisely reviews normal blood sugar physiology for breastfed infants.
What are the effects of hypoglycemia in newborns?
It is clear that extremely low blood glucose concentrations in neonates can cause apnea, irritability, lethargy, seizures,[7][8] and brain damage [9]; and that prolonged or symptomatic hypoglycemia may correlate with long-term neurodevelopmental deficits.
What are the benefits of early feedings for patients with hypoglycemia?
It is also possible that the low recurrence of hypoglycemia may be an additional benefit of early feedings.
Are pacifiers beneficial or harmful to the maternal/infant experience?
Results: Qualitative data analysis yielded several major themes that included the following: (1) pacifiers are beneficial for the maternal/infant experience, (2) concerns that pacifiers may interfere with breastfeeding, and (3) concerns about long-term use (including reliance and effect on teeth).