Table 1

Factors that must be considered at each prenatal care visit First level of care. Responsible: Family Physician and maternal and child health nurse. Please also refer to Figure 1.

PHYSICAL EXAM MUST INCLUDE FOLLOWING DATA:
     Blood pressure
Weight
     Height
Body mass index (BMI = kg/m2)
     Uterine size
Foetal movements

RISK FACTORS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF PREECLAMPSIA:
     • History of Preeclampsia/Eclampsia in previous pregnancies
     • ≥ 3 pregnancies
     • Family history of Preeclampsia/Eclampsia in first degree relative
     • Obesity (get data from physical exam. Obesity criteria: BMI > 27)
     • Primigravida

DEFINITION OF HYPERTENSION IN PREGNANCY:
     SBP ≥ 140 mm Hg or DPB ≥ 90 mm Hg
     Mean arterial pressure above 106 mm Hg
     Increase of 30 mmHg of SBP or increase of DPB above 15 mm Hg above baseline measures
     Measure blood pressure twice on the left arm, using the muffling of the sound (5th Korotkoff).
     The patient should be seated and external stimuli should be eliminated

Perez-Cuevas et al. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 2003 3:6   doi:10.1186/1471-2393-3-6