Focus On Maternity Practice Exam

Accurate blood pressure measurement requires the cuff to be at the level of the heart and the patient in a position that doesn’t alter venous return or the reading. In pregnancy, especially later on, lying flat on the back can compress the inferior vena cava under the uterus, reducing venous return and producing unreliable, often lower readings. Sitting with the back supported, feet uncrossed and flat, and with the arm supported at heart level keeps the cuff aligned with the heart and minimizes positional distortions. The arm at heart level ensures the pressure read by the cuff reflects the true arterial pressure transmitted to the heart. Standing or lying in other positions can introduce variability or complications and are not as reliable for routine BP measurement in pregnancy.