Question

A woman who is 8 weeks' pregnant is visiting the clinic for a checkup. Her systolic blood pressure is 30 mm Hg higher than her prepregnancy systolic blood pressure. The nurse should:

Consider this an abnormal finding because blood pressure is typically lower at this point in the pregnancy.

Answer 1

This answer is incorrect. During pregnancy, it is normal for a woman's blood pressure to decrease slightly in the first trimester (first three months) and then return to her prepregnancy levels in the second and third trimesters. If a woman's systolic blood pressure is 30 mm Hg higher than her prepregnancy level, this could be a sign of pregnancy-induced hypertension (also known as preeclampsia). Pregnancy-induced hypertension is a serious condition that can affect the health of both the mother and the baby. The nurse should report this finding to the healthcare provider and follow any treatment recommendations.