Lesson 1Choosing and citing guidelines: how to find and interpret major guidelines (e.g., ACOG, FIGO, WHO, SOGC, NICE) and selecting recommendations relevant to resource‑limited settingsThis lesson teaches how to find, evaluate, and use major guidelines on high blood pressure in pregnancy, like ACOG, FIGO, WHO, SOGC, and NICE, and how to adjust advice for local resources and patient needs in Namibia.
Finding trusted guideline sourcesUnderstanding evidence strength in guidelinesComparing ACOG, FIGO, WHO, SOGC, NICEAdapting to limited resourcesResolving conflicting adviceRecording and referencing guideline useLesson 2Clinical history and risk factor assessment: prior obstetric history, antenatal visit gaps, symptoms (headache, visual changes, epigastric pain), medication and social factorsThis lesson covers how to gather a focused patient history for suspected high blood pressure issues, including past pregnancies, missed antenatal visits, important warning signs, medicines, and social factors that affect risk and follow-up in Namibian contexts.
Main parts of past pregnancy historyNoting gaps in antenatal careAsking about headaches and vision issuesChecking upper belly or right side painReviewing medicines including traditional onesSocial, nutrition, and substance factorsLesson 3Urine and protein assessment: dipstick limitations, spot urine protein:creatinine ratio, 24‑hour urine protein indications and interpretationThis lesson describes ways to check for protein in urine during pregnancy, noting limits of dipstick tests, when to use spot protein-creatinine ratio and 24-hour collection, interpreting results, and how errors in timing affect accuracy.
Steps for clean midstream urine sampleLimits of dipstick and false resultsWhen to use spot protein-creatinineReading protein-creatinine valuesOrdering 24-hour urine collectionCommon mistakes in 24-hour samplingLesson 4Blood pressure measurement technique and interpretation: clinic repeat measurements, ambulatory/home monitoring principles, thresholds for diagnosisThis lesson reviews proper blood pressure taking in pregnancy, including cuff choice, position, timing, repeat checks, and reading clinic and home results, with diagnosis levels and common errors that can lead to wrong classification.
Preparing patient and rest timeRight cuff size and arm positionKorotkoff sounds for diastolic BPRepeat checks and averagingBasics of home and ambulatory monitoringDiagnosis levels and white-coat effectLesson 5Differential diagnoses for hypertension and proteinuria in pregnancy: urinary tract infection, renal disease, molar pregnancy, acute fatty liver, thrombocytopenia causesThis lesson looks at main other causes for high blood pressure and protein in urine during pregnancy, like urine infections, kidney problems, molar pregnancy, fatty liver, and low platelets that can look like preeclampsia.
Spotting long-term kidney issuesUrine infection with high BPSigns of molar pregnancyFatty liver vs HELLPImmune and other low platelet causesOther reasons for high BPLesson 6Targeted imaging: role and indications for obstetric ultrasound (fetal growth, amniotic fluid, placental assessment) and Doppler studiesThis lesson explains when and how to use scans in high blood pressure pregnancies, focusing on ultrasound for baby growth, fluid levels, placenta, and Doppler for blood flow to help decide on delivery time.
When to do pregnancy ultrasoundChecking baby growth and measurementsFluid levels assessmentPlacenta position and lookUterine and umbilical DopplerUsing scans for delivery decisionsLesson 7Initial bedside and lab tests to confirm diagnosis: CBC, platelets, liver enzymes (AST/ALT), serum creatinine, uric acid, electrolytes, coagulation tests, blood type and antibody screenThis lesson covers key bedside and lab tests to confirm and grade high blood pressure disorders, including full blood count, platelets, liver tests, creatinine, uric acid, salts, clotting, and blood type with antibodies, plus basic reading.
Bedside checks and vital signsFull blood count and platelets readingLiver enzymes and liver issuesCreatinine and kidney testsUric acid and salt problemsClotting tests and blood typingLesson 8Pathophysiology and classification: chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia with/without severe features, eclampsia, HELLP syndromeThis lesson outlines how high blood pressure disorders develop in pregnancy and clear diagnosis rules for long-term high BP, pregnancy-only high BP, preeclampsia mild or severe, fits, and HELLP, focusing on care impacts.
Normal heart changes in pregnancyPoor placenta attachment and vessel damageLong-term vs pregnancy high BPPreeclampsia diagnosis rulesSevere signs and fits spottingHELLP diagnosis signs
