Changes in pregnancy

Question 1

What are the main hormones in pregnancy

Answer 1

B-hcg eostrogen progesterone

Question 2

Where is oestrogen/progesterone produced and how does its levels change during pregnancy?

Answer 2

Initially produced by the corpus luteum in the ovary, then the placenta takes over, levels rise throughout pregnancy. These drop at the end of pregnancy and this allows birth to occur

Question 3

B-hcg peaks at _____

Answer 3

3 months

Question 4

Oestrogen helps to prepare_______ whilst progesterone is a ________________

Answer 4

Oestrogen helps to preparefor delivery by increasing the number of oxytocin receptorss whilst progesterone is a smooth muscle relaxant and maintains the uterine lining

Question 5

What is hyperemesis gravidarum? Why does this occur?

Answer 5

Severe nausea and vomiting in the setting of pregnancy

due to

• rise in Bhcg
• Changes in gastrointestinal motility and gastric emptying and increasing intra-abdominal pressure.

Question 6

What are the physiological changes in vaginal discharge that are to be expected in pregnant women?

Answer 6

Increasing volume of clear-cream discharge that is non-irritant

** pregnant women are also 10-20x more likely to develop vulvovaginal candidiasis**

Question 7

why do pregnant women develop back and pelvic pain?

Answer 7

1. As the uterus enlarges anteriorally, lumbar lordosis is accentuated and the centre of gravity changes.
2. Increased joint laxity also occurs in pregnancy and this affects the sacroiliac, sacrococcygeal, and pubic joints in particular.

Question 8

Why do prenant women get carpal tunnel syndrome?

Answer 8

oedema in the carpal tunnel