A nurse is monitoring a client with severe pre-eclampsia who is receiving magnesium sulfate intravenously.

Which of the following signs indicates magnesium toxicity and requires immediate intervention?

C. Fetal heart rate decelerations.

Fetal heart rate decelerations are temporary drops in the fetal heart rate that can indicate fetal distress or lack of oxygen.There are three types of decelerations: early, late and variable.Early decelerations are benign and caused by compression of the fetus’s head during a uterine contraction.Late decelerations are caused by uteroplacental insufficiency, which is a decrease in blood flow to the placenta.Variable decelerations are the most common type and vary in shape, duration and intensity.They are often caused by cord compression or other factors that affect fetal oxygenation.

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A. Fetal heart rate of 140 beats per minute.

Statement is wrong because this is a normal fetal heart rate.The normal range for fetal heart rate is 120-160 beats per minute.

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B. Uterine contractions every 10 minutes.

Statement is wrong because this is a normal frequency for uterine contractions during early labor.

The normal range for uterine contractions is 5-10 minutes apart.

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D. Uterine contractions lasting 60 seconds.

Statement is wrong because this is a normal duration for uterine contractions during active labor.

The normal range for uterine contractions is 45-90 seconds long.

Protein excretion of 450 mg indicates proteinuria.Proteinuria is the presence of excess protein in the urine, which can be a sign of kidney damage or disease.Normal protein excretion in a 24-hour urine collection is less than 150 mg.

Choice A is wrong because protein excretion of 150 mg is within the normal range.

Choice B is wrong because protein excretion of 250 mg is slightly above the normal range, but not enough to indicate proteinuria.

Choice C is wrong because protein excretion of 350 mg is also above the normal range, but not enough to indicate proteinuria.

Preeclampsia is a condition that affects some pregnant women, usually after 20 weeks of pregnancy.It causes high blood pressure and proteinuria, which can harm both the mother and the baby.A 24-hour urine collection is a simple lab test that measures what’s in the urine and checks kidney function.The test is done by collecting all the urine passed in a 24-hour period in a special container that must be kept cool until returned to the lab.