A nurse is evaluating the fetal status of a client who has preeclampsia and is receiving magnesium sulfate.

Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider as a sign of fetal compromise?

Headache that does not respond to analgesics.This is a possible sign of postpartum pre-eclampsia, a rare condition that occurs when a woman has high blood pressure and excess protein in her urine soon after childbirth.Postpartum pre-eclampsia can cause seizures and other serious complications if not treated.

Choice B is wrong because breast engorgement and tenderness are normal symptoms of breastfeeding and do not indicate postpartum pre-eclampsia.

Choice C is wrong because lochia rubra with small clots is a normal discharge of blood and tissue from the uterus after delivery and does not indicate postpartum pre-eclampsia.

Choice D is wrong because perineal pain and swelling are common after vaginal delivery and do not indicate postpartum pre-eclampsia.

Normal ranges for blood pressure are below 120/80 mm Hg and for protein in urine are below 150 mg/day.

The client has no seizures or eclampsia.This outcome would indicate that the magnesium sulfate therapy is successful because magnesium sulfate is a mineral that reduces seizure risks in women with preeclampsia.

Some additional information for the other choices are:

• Choice B. The client delivers a healthy baby vaginally.

This outcome is desirable but not directly related to the effectiveness of magnesium sulfate therapy.Magnesium sulfate can help prolong a pregnancy for up to two days to allow drugs that speed up the baby’s lung development to be administered, but it does not guarantee a vaginal delivery or a healthy baby.

• Choice C. The client has normal blood pressure and urine output.

This outcome is also desirable but not directly related to the effectiveness of magnesium sulfate therapy.

Magnesium sulfate may help reduce blood pressure in some cases, but it is not the primary treatment for hypertension in preeclampsia.Other medications such as antihypertensives are usually prescribed for that purpose.Urine output should be monitored closely while receiving magnesium sulfate therapy, as a decrease may indicate toxicity or kidney impairment.Urine output should be at least 30 mL/hour while administering magnesium sulfate.

• Choice D. The client has improved liver function and platelet count.

This outcome is also desirable but not directly related to the effectiveness of magnesium sulfate therapy.

Magnesium sulfate does not affect liver function or platelet count in preeclampsia.These parameters may improve after delivery of the placenta, which is the main cause of preeclampsia.

Normal ranges for blood pressure, urine output, liver function and platelet count are:

• Blood pressure: less than 140/90 mm Hg

• Urine output: at least 30 mL/hour

• Liver function: AST and ALT less than 40 U/L, LDH less than 600 U/L, bilirubin less than 1.2 mg/dL

• Platelet count: 150,000 to 450,000 per microliter of blood