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. 2016 May 13;4(2):26. doi: 10.3390/healthcare4020026

(A) First and second trimester record.

Gestation Signs and Symptoms Actions Severe Hypertension Protocol Applies at any Gestation Postpartum Hemorrhage Protocol
Antepartum visit at 8–16 weeks gestation
  • Body mass index (BMI)

    • > 25 kg/m2, if Asian

    • > 23 kg/m2

  • Current systolic blood pressure (BP) > than 120 mm Hg: Record BP:

    --------/-------

  • History of miscarriage.

  • History of pre-pregnancy hypertension OR chronic kidney disease.

  • History of late-onset (34 weeks gestation or later) preeclampsia-eclampsia (PE-E) in a prior pregnancy.

  • Diabetes or dyslipidemia.

If yes to any signs and symptoms:
  • Order baseline PE-E blood and urine tests.

  • Start low-dose aspirin (120–160 mg/day at bedtime. lower doses may be ineffective)––continue until 37 weeks gestation. Check weekly adherence:

    • □ 13, □ 14, □ 15, □ 16, □ 17, □ 18, □ 19,

    • □ 20, □ 21, □ 22, □ 23, □ 24, □ 25, □ 26, □ 27, □ 28,

    • □ 29, □ 30, □ 31, □ 32, □ 33, □ 34, □ 35, □ 36

  • Start calcium supplementation (1.5 g/day)––continue until 37 weeks gestation. Check weekly adherence:

    • □ 13, □ 14, □ 15, □ 16, □ 17, □ 18, □ 19, □ 20,

    • □ 21, □ 22, □ 23, □ 24, □ 25, □ 26, □ 27, □ 28,

    • □ 29, □ 30, □ 31, □ 32, □ 33, □ 34, □ 35, □ 36

  • Ascertain maternal smoking (Ask).

    • □ Yes, smoker □ No, nonsmoker

    • If yes: □ Smoking cessation intervention

    • □ Advise □ Assess □ Assist □ Arrange

  • Start First Line Intervention.

Systolic blood pressure (SBP)
 ≥160 mm Hg
 Or
Diastolic blood pressure (DBP)
 ≥110 mm Hg for > 15 min.

Administer
  • 1)

    Labetalol 20 mg iv. over 2 min, except if asthmatic or in heart failure.

  • a)

    If BP still severe in 10 min, give 40 mg labetalol iv.

  • b)

    If BP still severe in 10 min, give 60 mg labetalol iv.

  • c)

    If BP still severe in 10 min, give 80 mg labetalol iv.

  • d)

    If BP still severe in 10 min, consultation per protocol.

Insert institution Postpartum Hemorrhage protocol here.

Check for:
Transfusion availability
□ Platelets
□ Fresh frozen plasma
□ Cryoprecipitate
□ Packed red blood cells

Check for:
□ Cell saver applicability
Antepartum visit at 12–16 weeks gestation
  • History of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome.

  • History of early-onset PE-E (onset at before 34 weeks gestation) in a prior pregnancy.

  • History of small for gestational age fetus inconsistent with parentage.

  • Start unfractionated or low-molecular weight heparin.

    • Check weekly adherence:

    • □ 13, □ 14, □ 15, □ 16, □ 17, □ 18, □ 19, □ 20, □ 21,

    • □ 22, □ 23, □ 24, □ 25, □ 26, □ 27, □ 28, □ 29, □ 30,

    • □ 31, □ 32, □ 33, □ 34, □ 35, □ 36

  • Use low-dose aspirin and calcium. Check □ above.

  • Ascertain maternal smoking (Ask).

    • □ Yes, smoker □ No, nonsmoker

    • If yes: □ Smoking cessation intervention

    • □ Advise □ Assess □ Assist □ Arrange

Start hydralazine. Do not exceed 300 mg labetalol/24 h.
  • 2)

    Hydralazine 5 mg iv. First line if pulse <60 bpm. Can give 250 mL normal saline bolus to reduce reflex tachycardia.

  • a)

    If BP still severe in 20 min, give 10 mg hydralazine iv.

  • b)

    If BP still severe in 20 min, give 20 mg labetalol iv.

  • c)

    If BP still severe in 20 min, Give 40 mg labetalol iv.

Institute of Medicine
weight gain guide
Pre-pregnancy   Total
BMI    Weight gain
          lbs
<18.5      28–40
18.5–24.9    25–35
25.0–29.9    15–25
≥30.0      11–20
Antepartum visit after 16 weeks
  • Singleton gestation.

  • Multiple gestation.

If multiple gestation:
  • Perinatology/maternal-fetal-medicine consultation ordered.

  • Perinatology/maternal-fetal-medicine consultation performed.

Consultation per protocol.
  • 3)

    Oral nifedipine up to 90 mg daily.

Second and Third Trimester Weight Gain Rate
BMI          lbs/week
<18.5–24.9         1.0
25–29.9          0.6
Before 24 weeks □ Severe PE-E.
  • Consider pregnancy termination due to greater than 80% perinatal mortality and up to 71% maternal morbidity (Lowe et al., 2015).

  • Peridelivery thromboprophylaxis.

Short-acting is preferred.
  • 4)

    Oral labetalol 200 mg.

1st Trimester Weight Gain All BMIs 1.1–4.4 lbs
□ Excessive Interval weight gain
  • Revisit First Line Intervention