A primigravida is being monitored at the prenatal clinic for preeclampsia. Which finding is of greatest concern to the nurse?
A.
Dipstick value of 3+ for protein in her urine
B.
Pitting pedal edema at the end of the day
C.
Weight gain of 0.5 kg during the past 2 weeks
D.
Blood pressure (BP) increase to 138/86 mm Hg
In the context of preeclampsia monitoring, the finding of greatest concern to the nurse would be:
c. Dipstick value of 3+ for protein in her urine.
A protein dipstick reading of 3+ indicates significant proteinuria, which is a key criterion for diagnosing preeclampsia. It suggests that the kidneys may be affected and that the condition could be progressing, making this the most critical finding among the options provided.