An unresponsive 18-year-old female is obviously in her third trimester of pregnancy. Bystanders called when they saw her collapse and begin to have a seizure. She is no longer seizing, but she is postictal. Her face, hands, ankles, and feet appear swollen. Her abdomen is relaxed and soft to palpation. Her vital signs are P 98, R 16, BP 168/104, and SpO2 is 93% on room air. You should:

• A. Assist her ventilation.
• B. Transport her supine.
• C. Administer oxygen.
• D. Transport her with her pelvis elevated.

Answer: (C)

Administering supplemental oxygen is the best next step. In a third‑trimester patient who has had a seizure, eclampsia is a top concern, and maintaining adequate oxygen delivery to both mother and fetus is crucial. Her SpO2 is only 93% on room air, which indicates suboptimal oxygenation that could impair placental perfusion and fetal oxygenation. She’s currently not in need of ventilation support since she’s breathing spontaneously, so providing oxygen directly improves arterial oxygen content and helps cushion any ongoing perfusion issues. While positioning to reduce aortocaval compression is important in late pregnancy, the immediate priority that most directly supports both mother and baby is oxygen therapy.