Soon after birth, a newborn has cord blood drawn which shows hemoglobin of 28.2 mg/dL. What does the healthcare professional understand about this finding?
A)The baby suffered from hypoxia in utero.
B)This is a normal finding from cord blood.
C)The newborn needs a blood transfusion.
D)The infant's bone marrow is immature.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A normal cord blood hemoglobin mean is 16.8 mg/dL, so this is a high value. A hypoxic intrauterine environment stimulates erythropoietin production in the fetus and accelerates fetal erythropoiesis, producing polycythemia. This value does not indicate a need for transfusion nor does it demonstrate immature bone marrow.

Soon After Birth, a Newborn Has Cord Blood Drawn Which