Pregnancy Induced High Blood Pressure/OB
Pregnancy Induced High Blood Pressure/OB ("Pre-eclampsia" - a disorder occurring during the second half of pregnancy characterized by a blood pressure of 140/90 or an increase in blood pressure by 30 mm Hg systolic and 15 mm Hg diastolic, protein in the urine and swelling)
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Emergent Care - Have you identified one or more of the following symptoms?
- Change in mental state, disorientation or loss of consciousness, visual disturbances (blurred vision, double vision, flashing lights or spots before eyes)
- Epigastric (heartburn) or right upper quadrant abdominal pain
- Nausea and vomiting and pregnancy over 20 weeks and swelling of face, fingers, ankles or feet
- Sudden severe swelling of face, fingers, ankles or feet
- Severe headache
- Severe dizziness or fainting
- Urine output less than 500 cc (½ liter) in 24 hours
- Rapid weight gain of 10 or more pounds in 1 week
| Yes |
No |
Seek Immediate Medical Attention!
These symptoms can be life-threatening. |
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Women's Health - Did You Know?
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| approximately 7-8% of all pregnancies are complicated by pre-eclampsia
risk factors for pre-eclampsia include: first baby, family history, medical problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, teenage or over 35 year old mothers, multiple fetuses
pre-eclampsia can be managed until the baby is ready for delivery
severe pre-eclampsia, if left untreated, may progress to eclampsia that is diagnosed when convulsions occur
the cause of pre-eclampsia is not entirely understood, but existing theory suggests that there is a narrowing of blood vessels which causes an increase in blood pressure resulting in a decrease of blood flow to the fetus, placenta and kidneys |
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Urgent Care - Have you identified one or more of the following symptoms?
- Known high blood pressure with any of the following: mild to moderate headache, mild to moderate swelling of face, fingers, ankles or feet, dizziness or lightheadedness, weight gain of 2 pounds in a week or 6 pounds in a month
| Yes |
No |
Contact Your Health Care Provider. |
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Self-Management - You can help in the following ways:
- only self manage after consultation with Health Care Provider
- weigh self everyday at the same time with the same amount of clothing and record
- bedrest
- lay tilted toward left side to increase blood flow to uterus and placenta
- avoid smoking and smoke filled rooms
- monitor fetal movement (minimum of 5 kicks per hour)
- take blood pressure 4 times a day
- maintain nutritional intake with adequate amounts of calories, protein and fluids
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Go Back
Call Your Health Care Provider If: |
| You do not get better, new symptoms appear, you are concerned in any way or you have questions. |
