neonatal hypoglycemia

• test after 2 hours unless symptomatic
• blood glucose levels fall to a low point during the first few hours of life because the source of maternal glucose is removed and insulin production of the newborn
• most infants experience transient hypoglycemia and are asymptomatic
• preterm newborns are at high risk due to immature glucose control mechanisms and decreased glucose stores
• untested hypoglycemia can cause long-term neurological effects
• signs and symptoms: jitteriness, lethargy, cyanosis, apnea(longer than 15 seconds), seizure, high pitched cry, hypothermia, poor feeding/feeble suck
• nursing management: monitor signs and symptoms, blood glucose monitoring, rapid acting sources of glucose, expressed breast milk/breastfeeding, formula, IV dextrose solution, encourage early breastfeeding