Pregnancy Induced

Hypertension

Benita Beard 2012

Objectives:

Examine implications of Pregnancy Induced Hypertension(PIH) on a pregnancy.

Discuss assessments for a patient with PIH.

Describe care of a patient with PIH.

Shana is a 26 year old with 2 children (ages 4 and 7). She is currently expecting her third child. Shana’s boyfriend of 2 years, left Shana after finding out she was pregnant. She is currently living with her sister, Kyana.

Kyana is a single parent of 2 children, ages 3 and 5. Shana and her sister, Kyana, are very close and have combined resources to make their lives easier. Shana cares for the children and maintains things at home while Kyana works.

Assessment Data: 26 year old African American G3P2 Upon exam was found to be 12 weeks

pregnant. 107/84, 98.9, 82, 18 Weight: 180 lbs

Shana’s First Prenatal Visit

Assessments:

Weight 192 lbs BP 118/88, HR 88 Hgb 11.5, Hct 33. Urine negative for sugar and trace for

protein

Shana is now 20 weeks gestation at her Prenatal Visit

Shana is now 29 weeks gestation. Two weeks ago she was experiencing back pain and discomfort that went away after two hours.

She felt the same symptoms the next day and went to the see her health care provider.

Shana had no cervical changes. She was found to have a urinary tract infection(UTI).

Shana has had no further symptoms since treatment of her UTI.

Assessments: 32 weeks gestation 162/110 Gained 7 lbs in last 2 weeks Legs, feet and hands are puffy Denies seeing spots or stars, but does admit

to having blurred vision from time to time. Reflexes are 3+ Protein in urine is 3+

Today Shana has come to the office with complaints of a headache that won’t go away.

Figure 20.5 Clinical manifestations and pathophysiology of preeclampsia-eclampsia

Shana is placed in a dark room for 30 minutes and is instructed to lay on her left side. Her blood pressure decreases to 158/94.

She refuses to go to the hospital.

She is sent home on bedrest and is to do a 24 hour urine collection. She is to call if she has any further symptoms

She is to return to the office in the AM.

Shana brings the 24 hour urine collection to the office. Her pressure remains at 158/94. She denies headache or visual disturbances.

She has all four children with her and is in a hurry to return home. She promises to rest and to call if she has any further symptoms.

EMS Assessment: BP 192/112, HR 102, RR 24 FHR – 140s Shana is awake but is confused as to what

happened.

Shana’s sister comes home from work and finds Shana passed out on the floor. She is taken by EMS directly to the labor and delivery unit.

1-Shana 2-Multigravida with twins in early labor 3-Primagravida in early labor Rooms available are a small room directly

across form the nurses station usually used for testing.

A large room at the end of the hall A swing room used for overflow adjacent to

the Labor and Delivery Unit.

Shana needs to be assigned a room. Three patients have arrived on the Labor and Delivery unit at the same time.

Assessments:

BP 192/112, T 98.6, HR 102, RR 24 Denies pain or contractions FHTs are 130’s to 140’s 3+ Reflexes with Negative clonus Urine 3+ ketones and 3+ protein Vaginal exam revealed 2 cm dilated, 50%

effaced with membranes intact.

Shana is placed in a room and assessed.

Bedrest Stat labs Magnesium sulfate 4 gm bolus now and

continue per protocol at 2 gms per hour. IV of LR at 125cc per hour Continuous fetal monitoring

Shana’s healthcare provider has written the following orders.

Shana is placed on magnesium sulfate. She will be given a 4 gm loading dose and then be maintained on 2 gms an hour.

Once stabilized the order is to have Pitocin started IV, per protocol, for labor induction.

BP 188/98, T 98.6, HR 102, R 16 pain (6) Vaginal exam reveals 4 cm and 90% effaced

at zero station. Contractions are firm every 3-4 minutes lasting 40-90 seconds.

Membranes were ruptured by healthcare provider with clear fluid noted.

Reflexes 3+ with negative clonus Shana is now asking for something for pain

6 hours later Shana’s assessment findings are:

Shana was given an epidural for pain management and complained of an urge to push during insertion.

Vaginal examination reveals 10 cm 0/+1 station 100% effaced

What’s next? What is needed for mom, for baby? What do nurses need to have prepared for

delivery? What outcomes, for Shana and the baby,

does the nurse need to anticipate based on Shana’s prenatal and labor history?

Shana is now pushing with contractions

How might Shana’s postpartum “course” differ from the “normal” postpartum course?

www.emedicine.medscape.com/article/1476919-overview

www.mayoclinic.com/health/preeclampsia/DS00583

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001900 www.preeclampsia.org/signs&symptoms

London, M., Ladewig, P., Ball, J., Bindler, R., & Cowen, K. (2011). Maternal & Child Nursing Care. (3rd Ed.). New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc.

Ward, Susan L. and Hisley, S. M. (2009). Maternal-Child Nursing Care: Optimizing Outcomes for Mathers, Children, & Families. Philadelphia: F. A. Davis Company.

Sources