Preeclampsia: Expectant Management
Topic Overview
Expectant management, or observation, is sometimes used to manage complications of a high-risk pregnancy. Depending on the severity of your preeclampsia , you may need expectant management at home or in the hospital.
Expectant management at home requires reduced activity and careful checking and daily recording of:
- Fetal activity.
- Blood pressure reading.
- Urine protein measurement.
- Weight.
The daily log of symptoms and measurements is combined with frequent (usually twice weekly) checks at the doctor's office.
Being on expectant management may mean you are advised to stop working, reduce your activity level, or possibly spend a lot of time resting (partial bed rest). Although partial bed rest is considered reasonable treatment for preeclampsia, its effectiveness is not proved for treating mild preeclampsia. footnote 1 It is known that strict bed rest may raise your risk of developing a blood clot in the legs or lungs.
Expectant management in the hospital requires some bed rest and includes more frequent electronic and laboratory monitoring of the mother and fetus.
Related Information
References
Citations
Credits
Current as of: February 11, 2020
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review: Sarah A. Marshall, MD - Family Medicine
Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
William M. Gilbert, MD - Maternal and Fetal Medicine
- Top of the page
-
Next Section:
Related Information
-
Previous Section:
Topic Overview - Top of the page
-
Next Section:
References
-
Previous Section:
Related Information - Top of the page
-
Next Section:
Credits
-
Previous Section:
References - Top of the page
Current as of: February 11, 2020
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review: Sarah A. Marshall, MD - Family Medicine & Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine & Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine & William M. Gilbert, MD - Maternal and Fetal Medicine