Which risk factor for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in newborns should a nurse include in teaching?

Prematurity is a significant risk factor for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in newborns because the lungs of preterm infants often lack sufficient surfactant, a substance that helps keep the air sacs in the lungs open and aids in normal breathing. This deficiency of surfactant is primarily due to the fact that the lungs of preterm infants have not fully developed, usually when born before 34 weeks of gestation, resulting in poor compliance of the lungs, impaired gas exchange, and the potential for developing RDS.

Teaching about prematurity is crucial for nursing care because it allows parents and caregivers to understand the importance of factors that can lead to early delivery and the additional medical interventions that preterm infants may require. Recognizing prematurity as the primary risk factor for RDS helps healthcare providers focus on preventive measures, such as administering steroids to mothers at risk of preterm labor to promote fetal lung maturation.