Caring for Women With Preeclampsia and Eclampsia

When caring for a woman who is experiencing preeclampsia, there are many different things a nurse must keep in mind. Depending on whether she is experiencing antepartum preeclampsia or postpartum preeclampsia, the techniques used to care for the patient differ. When treating a woman who is currently experiencing antepartum preeclampsia, care can be provided in either a hospital environment or at the patient’s home. Due to increasing pushes in the healthcare field, more women tend to care for their preeclampsia in their own home setting. There are, however, certain ramifications that must be met in order for a woman to be able to partake in home care; she must have a blood pressure less than or equal to 150/100 mm Hg, proteinuria that measures less than 1 g/24 hours or 3+ dipstick, a normal fetal growth if not at term, no present signs of vaginal bleeding, and a platelet count greater than 120,000 mm3. The mother or mother-to-be will monitor fetal movements and should be properly instructed in how to complete this intervention. She should also be taught to monitor her blood pressure, weight, and urine protein daily. The woman is instructed to limit any activity and allow for plenty of resting time, lying in the left lateral recumbent position as much as possible. It is extremely important that the woman recognizes any abnormal signs and symptoms of her disease that would indicate the worsening of her condition such as an increase in weight of 1.4 kg or 3 lbs in 24 hours or 1.8 kg (4lbs) within a 3 day period. A woman with increasing signs and symptoms or a worsening of her condition will be hospitalized. If a woman’s condition has worsened, or she has severe preeclampsia upon assessment during her initial visit, she is ad...

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...sure limited exposure of the patient and to provide a female care provider to carry out the postpartum BUBBLEHED assessment that is crucial for the mother who was diagnosed with preeclampsia during her pregnancy (Charles and Daroszewski, 2012).

Works Cited

Charles, C. E., & Beth Daroszewski, ,. (2012). Culturally Competent Nursing Care of the Muslim Patient. Issues In Mental Health Nursing, 33(1), 61-63 doi:10.3109/01612840.2011.596613

Hoedjes, M., Berks, D., Vogel, I., Franx, A., Bangma, M., Darlington, A. E., & ... Raat, H. (2011). Postpartum Depression After Mild and Severe Preeclampsia. Journal Of Women's Health (15409996), 20(10), 1535-1542. doi:10.1089/jwh.2010.2584

McCoy, S., & Baldwin, K. (2009). Pharmacotherapeutic options for the treatment of preeclampsia. American Journal Of Health-System Pharmacy, 66(4), 337-344. doi:10.2146/ajhp080104