Final answer:
The nurse keeps a record of a patient's blood pressure during prenatal visits to identify gestational hypertension and ensure blood pressure regulation, which is crucial for the mother's and baby's health during pregnancy and childbirth. Option d is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
During prenatal visits, the nurse keeps a record of a patient's blood pressure primarily to identify gestational hypertension. This condition, characterized by high blood pressure during pregnancy, can lead to serious health issues for both the mother and the fetus if not properly managed.
Monitoring blood pressure is crucial since gestational hypertension can develop into preeclampsia, a complication that can have severe consequences. It is not indicative of ketoacidosis, which involves an overproduction of ketone bodies, nor placenta previa, a condition wherein the placenta covers the cervix.
Gestational diabetes is typically screened for with blood glucose tests, rather than blood pressure monitoring.