Gestational HTN (Hypertension)

In this lesson I will explain gestational hypertension and the effects it has on the patient as well as your role in providing care

So what does all of this mean? The patient has an elevated blood pressure. Ok let’s talk about this in more detail. It is not just a little elevated, we are looking at blood pressures of 140/90 or greater AND an absolute must have is the 20 weeks gestation. The patient has to be 20 weeks or more pregnant. If she is under 20 weeks gestation then it is just called chronic hypertension. A patient with gestational hypertension will have no other symptoms. If there are other symptoms like proteinuria then it is progressing. Progressing to preeclampsia. So refer to the lesson on preeclampsia for more details on this. For this patient there will be close monitoring and they might induce early if the benefit of delivery outweighs the risk of staying pregnant. So what does monitoring mean? Monitoring will include lab work like CBC, BMP, and checking urine for protein. Monitoring blood pressures and frequent assessments of the baby with non stress tests and ultrasounds are done to make sure the fetus is getting the nutrients it needs and growing properly.
Our assessment is going to be of the elevated BP which rememer is 140/90 or over with no other signs/symptoms. Signs and symptoms are a signal that we are progressing to preeclampsia. Lab work assessment is done to again check for progression. We can’t forget to also assess the fetus. We have to make sure the fetus is in a safe environment and getting the nutrients that it needs. So with this fetal assessment we will check it’s growth because hypertension will cause growth restriction and also a non stress test or even an U/S for those measurements to ensure the baby is okay.
We need to manage the blood pressures to make sure we can keep the patient and fetus safe. So antihypertensives might be prescribed to help bring the blood pressure down. First line treatment is methyldopa and labetalol. Induction might need to be part of our management if the fetus or mother is at risk.

The patient needs education on signs to report to the provider. These are signs like headache, vision changes and increased swelling. These symptoms are signs that the hypertension could be progressing. She needs to know how to do BP monitoring at home and how to keep a log and report any high readings. She also needs to be instructed on any medications to help control the pressures.

The nursing concepts are going to be reproduction because gestational hypertension is caused by the reproduction and always remember there’s a second life at stake. Perfusion is the other concept because we are concerned with the high blood pressure and the organs including the placenta not getting perfused the way that they should.
So the key points to remember and know are this is hypertension. Hypertension is 140/90 or greater. The patient must be 20 weeks or more pregnant. This is a must have criteria. If the patient is 18 weeks pregnant and has a high blood pressure then she is just classified as being a chronic hypertensive patient. There are no other symptoms with this. If patients start having additional symptoms it could be a sign that the disease is progressing . Gestational hypertension does put the patient at risk just like a regular non pregnancy cardiac patient. They are at risk for perfusion problems. And remember we need to perfuse something very important, a baby! So without adequate perfusion the fetus doesn’t get healthy blood flow like it should and the baby will grow small and be grown restricted.

Make sure you check out the resources attached to this lesson. Now, go out and be your best selves today. And, as always, happy nursing.