Pre-eclampsia

Data gathering

  • Red flags -headache, visual changes, reduced fetal movements, abdo pain, PV bleeding
  • Others – risk factors (raised BMI, first pregnancy, history, older)
  • Examine
    • pulse, BP
    • SFH, fundoscopy, hand/feet swelling, reflexes
    • urine dip

 

Clinical management

  • Explanation
    • high blood pressure and protein leaking from kidneys – happens from about 20 weeks (same as gestational hypertension)
    • exact cause is unknown – thought to do with the placenta
  • Treatment
    • Refer to obstetrics – bloods, scan, CTG, aspirin

 

Notes

  • Complications
    • IUGR
    • HELLP, Eclampsia