Hypertension in Pregnancy
Blood pressure measures the amount of force used as blood travels through the arteries. In pregnancy, if a woman’s blood pressure reaches too high a number, it not only has negative effects on her health but her baby’s health as well. Hypertension in pregnancy can quickly lead up to more severe conditions such as seizures. Due to the dangers associated with blood pressure in pregnancy, expectant mothers need to be educated on hypertension, preeclampsia and eclampsia.
“Gestational hypertension is a temporary diagnosis for hypertensive pregnant women who do not meet the criteria for preeclampsia (both hypertension and proteinuria) or chronic hypertension (hypertension first detected before the 20th week of pregnancy)” (Ricci). Most women diagnosed with hypertension are monitored closely through their pregnancy to look for complications. Most cases of hypertension do not require pharmacologic treatment and can be controlled with lifestyle changes, unless their blood pressure reaches unsafe limits. In “Hypertension in Pregnancy” Tahmasbi mentions some of the complications related to hypertension in pregnancy such as harm to the …show more content…
Characterized by convulsions, eclampsia can result in the patient’s death (Lawrence). During eclampsia seizures, patient safety is the most important implication. Ricci explains safety measures in Maternity and Pediatric, such as turning the patient to their side, side rails are up and padded, and to reduce stimuli such as noise and light (Ricci). Therapeutic regimens are ordered to help prevent and treat seizures. “If magnesium sulfate fails to control seizures, then drugs such as diazepam should be administered” (Lawrence). If pharmacologic measures fail to help the patient, then delivery of the fetus is essential in both the mother and fetus’
Blood pressure measures the amount of force used as blood travels through the arteries. In pregnancy, if a woman’s blood pressure reaches too high a number, it not only has negative effects on her health but her baby’s health as well. Hypertension in pregnancy can quickly lead up to more severe conditions such as seizures. Due to the dangers associated with blood pressure in pregnancy, expectant mothers need to be educated on hypertension, preeclampsia and eclampsia.
“Gestational hypertension is a temporary diagnosis for hypertensive pregnant women who do not meet the criteria for preeclampsia (both hypertension and proteinuria) or chronic hypertension (hypertension first detected before the 20th week of pregnancy)” (Ricci). Most women diagnosed with hypertension are monitored closely through their pregnancy to look for complications. Most cases of hypertension do not require pharmacologic treatment and can be controlled with lifestyle changes, unless their blood pressure reaches unsafe limits. In “Hypertension in Pregnancy” Tahmasbi mentions some of the complications related to hypertension in pregnancy such as harm to the …show more content…
Characterized by convulsions, eclampsia can result in the patient’s death (Lawrence). During eclampsia seizures, patient safety is the most important implication. Ricci explains safety measures in Maternity and Pediatric, such as turning the patient to their side, side rails are up and padded, and to reduce stimuli such as noise and light (Ricci). Therapeutic regimens are ordered to help prevent and treat seizures. “If magnesium sulfate fails to control seizures, then drugs such as diazepam should be administered” (Lawrence). If pharmacologic measures fail to help the patient, then delivery of the fetus is essential in both the mother and fetus’