Question

A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who is at 10 weeks' gestation and has a medical history of mild hypertension. The nurse should remind the client to call the clinic if she: Option 1: Experiences nausea and vomiting. Option 2: Feels fetal movements. Option 3: Experiences sudden weight gain or swelling. Option 4: Has a decrease in appetite.

Answer 1

While nausea, decreased appetite, and feeling of fetal movements are common during pregnancy, a patient, particularly with a history of hypertension, should immediately report to the clinic if she experiences sudden weight gain or swelling, as this could be a symptom of pre-eclampsia, a serious pregnancy complication.

Step-by-step explanation:

A pregnant client, especially one with a history of mild hypertension, should always be vigilant of sudden, unusual changes in her body. While nausea, vomiting, and a decrease in appetite are common in early stages of pregnancy, these symptoms aren't typically alarming unless they are persistent and severe. Feeling fetal movements usually starts to occur around 16-20 weeks into the pregnancy and is expected.

However, the patient should immediately report to the clinic if they experience sudden weight gain or swelling. This could be a sign of a condition called pre-eclampsia, which is a serious pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and signs of damage to another organ system, often the liver and kidneys. This condition, if left untreated, could negatively impact both mother and baby's health.

Learn more about Pregnancy Symptoms