Adaptations to Pregnancy Flashcards
What are the 6 key hormones of pregnancy?
- Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG)
- Progesterone
- Estrogen
- Prolactin
- Relaxin
- Oxytocin
What does Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) do?
It supports the function of the corpus luteum.
What does Progesterone do?
- Helps establish the placenta
- Stimulates growth of blood vessels that supply the womb and inhibits contraction of the uterus
- Strengthens pelvic wall muscles for labor
What does Estrogen do?
Helps the uterus grow, maintains its lining, and helps fetal organs develop
What does Prolactin do?
Main hormone needed to produce breast milk
What does Relaxin do?
- Inhibits uterus contraction to prevent premature birth
- Relaxes blood vessels
- Relaxes pelvis and softens cervix
What does Oxytocin do?
- Oxytocin levels rise at the start of labor, stimulating contractions of uterine muscles.
- Triggers production of prostaglandins
Describe Endocrine Adaptations during pregnancy.
- Pituitary system
- Adrenal glands
- Thyroid gland
- Pancreas
- Placenta (acts as temporary endocrine gland during pregnancy)
Describe Endocrine-Pancreas Adaptations.
- Pancreas produces increased levels of insulin as pregnancy progresses.
- But placenta secretes an anti-insulin hormone (Human Placental Lactogen or hPL) that keeps blood glucose levels stable as pregnancy progresses.
Describe Reproductive Adaptations during pregnancy (mentruation, uterine, cervix).
- Amenorrhea
- Uterine changes
- Quickening, ballottement
- Predictable growth pattern
- Braxton Hicks
- Vaginal & Cervical changes
- Goodell sign – soften of cervix
- Chadwick sign – bluish color of cervix
- Leukorrhea, increased vascularity
Describe Reproductive Adaptations during pregnancy (ovaries, breasts).
Ovaries:
- Corpus luteum sustains early pregnancy
- Releases estrogen and progesterone
Breasts:
- Estrogen stimulates growth of mammary tissue
- Become highly vascular
- Striae gravidarum may appear
- Progesterone stimulates growth and alveoli
- Colostrum appears (12-16wks)
What are some breast changes during pregnancy?
- Darkened areola
- Montgomery glands become pronounced
- Breasts enlarge
- Begin producing colostrum around 16 weeks
Describe Cardiovascular Adaptations during pregnancy.
- CV changes occur to protect normal physiologic functions while meeting increased metabolic and fetal needs
- Expanded blood volume (30-50%) increases cardiac output (but not BP)
- Can result in dilutional anemia; still expect H&H value of ~11 g/dL, 32-33%.
- Systolic murmur heard in 90% of pregnant women due to increased cardiovascular load
- Result from aortic and pulmonary artery blood flow
- Murmurs > grade 2/4 and any diastolic murmurs are abnormal
- There may be a mild hypertrophy, secondary to the increased blood flow and work of the heart muscle.
- HR increases 10-20 BPM
Describe Renal Adaptations during pregnancy.
- Renal blood flow increases 50%
- ↑ urinary frequency in later pregnancy
- Delayed clearance and incomplete emptying increases risk of urinary tract infection
Describe GI Adaptations during pregnancy.
- Mouth
- Gingivitis, gums bleed easily
- Ptyalism – increased salivation
- Esophagus and stomach
- N&V- predicted by high hCG and high estrogen level
- Heartburn and reflux common
- Intestines
- Increased emptying time/decreased motility
- Constipation, hemorrhoids common
- Liver and Gallbladder
- Functional changes can lead to gallstones
- Cholestasis- slow bile flow, bile builds up in liver; can result in preterm or stillbirth
- Iron found in prenatal vitamin can worsen N/V/C