A nurse is reviewing the risk factors for gestational hypertension with a group of pregnant clients at a prenatal clinic.

Which of the following factors should the nurse include? (Select all that apply.).

The correct answer is choice B. Monitor fetal heart rate continuously.This is because hydralazine is a vasodilator that lowers blood pressure and may cause tachycardia.Tachycardia can affect the fetal heart rate and oxygenation, so continuous monitoring is essential to detect any signs of fetal distress.

Choice A is wrong because hydralazine does not cause orthostatic hypotension, but rather a reflex increase in heart rate and cardiac output.

Orthostatic hypotension is more likely to occur with other antihypertensive drugs such as alpha-blockers or diuretics.

Choice C is wrong because encouraging oral fluid intake may worsen the fluid retention and edema that are common in preeclampsia.Fluid intake should be restricted to avoid pulmonary edema and cerebral edema.

Choice D is wrong because administering oxygen via nasal cannula is not a priority intervention for a woman with severe preeclampsia who is receiving hydralazine IV.Oxygen therapy may be indicated if the woman develops signs of hypoxia, such as dyspnea, cyanosis, or low oxygen saturation.However, oxygen therapy should be used with caution as it may increase oxidative stress and placental vasoconstriction.

The correct answer is choice A, B, C and E.These are all risk factors for gestational hypertension according to various sources.

Some possible explanations for each choice are:

• Choice A: Maternal age over 35 years.Older women are more likely to have chronic hypertension, diabetes, or other conditions that increase the risk of gestational hypertension.

• Choice B: First pregnancy.Women who are pregnant for the first time are more likely to develop gestational hypertension than women who have had previous pregnancies.

• Choice C: Multiple gestation.Women who are carrying twins, triplets, or more are more likely to have gestational hypertension because of the increased placental mass and blood volume.

• Choice D: History of diabetes mellitus.This is not a risk factor for gestational hypertension, but it is a risk factor for preeclampsia, which is a more severe form of hypertension that involves proteinuria and organ damage.

Preeclampsia can develop from gestational hypertension or occur independently.

• Choice E: African American race.African American women are more likely to have gestational hypertension than women of other races or ethnicities.

This may be due to genetic, environmental, or social factors that affect blood pressure regulation.

Normal ranges for blood pressure during pregnancy are less than 140/90 mmHg.Gestational hypertension is diagnosed when blood pressure is greater than or equal to 140/90 mmHg after 20 weeks of pregnancy and there is no proteinuria or other signs of preeclampsia.Gestational hypertension usually goes away after delivery, but it can increase the risk of complications for both the mother and the baby.