ch. 13 A&P of pregnancy Flashcards
what attributes to maternal physiological adaptations? (2)
- hormones of pregnancy
- mechanical pressure arising from the enlarging uterus and other tissues
what changes occur in the uterus (5)
- enlargement d/t hypertrophy of myometrial cells (increase in size)
- limited hyperplasia (increase in number)
- thickening of the walls d/t effects of estrogen/progesterone (enlarges more around placental insertion site and fundus)
- increase in vascular and lymphatic system (EXAM: 1/6 of total maternal blood volume is contained within vasculature system of uterus)
- braxton hicks contractions
braxton hick contractions (what, felt by, helps to, may be confused with)
irregular painless intermittent contractions throughout pregnancy
- can be felt by: 4 months
- helps to stimulate movement of blood through intervillous spaces of the placenta
- may later be confused with preterm labor
what changes occur in the cervix (4)
- primarily connective tissue
- glandular tissue stimulated by estrogen (hyperplasia: increase in cell number, becomes hyperactive)
- development of a mucus plug (protective coating around cervix)
- increased vascularization results in hypertrophy and engorgement of vessels below the growing uterus (3 signs: goodell’s, chadwicks, hegars)
mucus plug (what, 2)
thick, tenacious seals endocervical canal
- plug is “expelled” when dilation begins
- protects cervix
goodell’s sign (what, 1)
softening of cervix
- cervix usually firm, but thins during pregnancy and opens for labor (insert 2 fingers)
chadwick’s sign (what)
bluish-purple discoloration of cervix
- cervix usually pink
hegar’s sign (what, 2)
softening of lower uterine segment (junction posterior cervix) that is palpable in the 2/3 month of pregnancy (indication of pregnancy)
- 8-10 weeks
- top of cervix where perimetruim meets (cervical isthmus)
braun von fernwald sign (2)
- irregular softening and enlargement at the site of implantaiton
- early uterine change of pregnancy
piskacek sign (2)
tumorlike asymmetric enlargement
- early uterine changes of pregnancy
approximate height of the fundus (2)
umbilicus: 20 weeks indicator
under ribcage: approximately 36 weeks
ovary changes in pregnancy (5)
- cease ovum production during pregnancy
- production of FSH/LH ceases
- theca cells form
- hCG forms
- corpus luteum
theca cells (what, becomes active in, known as)
cells lining the follicles
- become active in hormone production
- known as the interstitial glands of pregnancy
hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) (3)
maintains corpus luteum (persists and produces hormones until 6-8 weeks of pregnancy)
- early placenta takes over
- EXAM: BIOMARKER FOR PREGNANCY
corpus luteum
secretes progesterone to maintain endometrium until placenta produces enough progesterone to maintain pregnancy
- then disintegrates slowly
TIP:
- increase hCG causes N/V
changes in the vagina pregnancy (5)
- hypertrophy, increased vascularization, hyperplasia
- changes are ESTROGEN INDUCED
- increase in secretions, thick and acidic (becomes more toxic to sperm/bacteria)
- loosening of connective tissue
- becomes relaxed in late pregnancy
secretions in the vagina during pregnancy (2)
- plays a role in preventing infection
- favors growth of yeast
why does the vagina become relaxed in late pregnancy (2)
- permits distention of the tissues
- allows passage of the baby
changes in the breast during pregnancy (6)
- increase breast size and nodularity (early lactogenesis)
- changes are ESTROGEN and PROGESTERONE INDUCED
- grandular hyperplasia and hypertrophy
- areolar darken, superficial veins prominent
- striae may develop (stretch marks)
- colostrum is secreted (from breast, as early as 3 months)