Class 2: Pregnancy (uncomplicated) Flashcards
Pregnancy length of time
9 calendar months
10 lunar months of 28 days
280 days total
40 weeks (from 1st day of last menstrual period)
Pregnancy trimesters
First: weeks 1 through 13
Second: weeks 14 through 26
Third: weeks 27 through to term
The physiological processes of pregnancy
Oogenesis
Spermatogenesis
Menstrual cycle and ovulation
Conception (fertilization, implantation)
Fertilization
Fertilization occurs in the outer 3rd of the uterine tube
Mitotic cell division (cleavage) occurs
Morula develops (day 3)
Early blastocyst (day 4)
Implantation (day 6-10)
Blastocyst
Inner cell mass = embryoblast
Blastocyst cavity = blastocele
Outer cells = trophoblasts
The corpus luteum
Receives a signal from the zygote (hormone: hCG human chorionic gonadotropin) to alert that fertilization has occurs
Will produce progesterone and some estrogen
Lasts for approx 12 weeks
Pregnancy tests
-detect the hormone hCG
-OTC urine pregnancy tests can detect hCG usually when level is about 25 mIU/mL
-clients should be instructed to use the first void in the morning, as levels are the highest at that time
-blood hCG is quantitative (exact amount is measured), <5 mIU/mL is normal when not pregnant
Pre-embryonic stage
Fertilization to end of 2nd week
Fertilization; cleavage; morula
Blastocyst
Implantation
The yolk sac provides nutrients and oxygen
Nutrients diffuse across the chorion from pregnant person’s circulation
Fetal period
Weeks 9 to birth
Embryonic period
Weeks 3-8
Embryonic stage
weeks 3-8
The embryonic disk, yolk sac and amniotic sac are connected to chorionic villi by connecting stalk
Week 3 blood vessels begin to supply nutrients from pregnant person’s circulation to early placental structure
End of week 3 the primitive heart starts to beat
In the 4th week the yolk sac folds into digestive tract
In the 5th week the connected stalk is compressed and forms the umbilical cord
Basic structures of major body organs andmainexternalfeatures are developed during this time (organogenesis)
Very sensitive time for malformations to occur
Fetal stage
week 9 untilbirth.
Refinement of the structure and function of organ systems
Chorion
Blends with the placenta
Amnion
Blends with the umbilical cord
Amniotic fluid: at term 700-1000ml, important functions for development of the fetus, contains genetic information from the fetus, can be sampled to determine fetal lung maturity (L/S ratio)
Umbilical cord
2 arteries
1 vein
Wharton’s jelly
Placental structure
Fetal side (chorion frondosum) & maternal side (decidua basalis)
Complete and functional at approx. 12 weeks gestation
There is no mixing of the blood between pregnant person and fetus
Location and implantation of the placenta are very important!
Placental function
Site of respiration, nutrition, excretion and storagefor the fetus – mostly using diffusion
Blood flow through uteroplacental vascular system at 40 weeks is 450-650ml/min.
Endocrine function:Hormones of theplacenta – progesterone,placentallactogen, estrogen,relaxin, B-hCGandinfant growth factors (IGFs)
**Blood pressure dependent
Amniotic fluid function
It serves as a cushion for the growing fetus, but also facilitates the exchange of nutrients, water, and biochemical products between mother and fetus
This fluid also allows the developing fetus to practice breathing, which is crucial for extra uterine life
Amniotic fluid content
Is made up of fetal urine and fluid that is transported through the placenta from maternal circulation
The fetus swallows AF and excretes urine and waste products which are then excreted by maternal kidneys
Normal amount of amniotic fluid at term
700-1000 mL
Which is more common: polyhydramnios or oligohydramnios?
Oligohydramnios
Fetal circulatory system
Optimization of transfer of O2 from parent to fetus
Fetal hgb (carries more O2 than parental hgb and higher hgb concentration
FHR is higher than parental HR
Fetal maturation
Viability - “age of viability,” 22-25 weeks
Capability of fetus to survive outside uterus
Limitations based on central nervous system function and oxygenation capability of lungs
What is a congenital disorder?
A structural or functional anomaly (“birth defect”) that happens during intrauterine life
Congenital disorders may be inherited or may be caused by environmental factors
Factors to developing congenital disorder
- Genetic factors – single gene disorders, chromosomal abnormalities
- Nongenetic factors
- Teratogens- Drugs and chemicals; alcohol, oral isotretinoin
- Infections: rubella, varicella
- Radiation: xrays/CT scans
- Maternal health conditions: e.g. Diabetes – hyperglycemia
- Maternal Nutrition
Hormones in pregnancy
- Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCGorBhCG)
- Biochemical marker of pregnancy (urine or serum)
- Can be false pos or neg
- Estrogen (E) - vascularization
- Progesterone (P) – smooth muscle relaxation
- Relaxin
- Human placental lactogen (hPL)
- Oxytocin
- Prolactin
Zygote and hormones
Zygote → corpus luteum → estrogen and progesterone
Placenta and hormones
hCG
estrogen
progesterone
relaxin
hPL
Presumptive signs of pregnancy
Patient’s subjective symptomsthat may be associated with pregnancy
amenorrhea, breast tenderness, nausea/vomiting, urinary frequency
Probable signs of pregnancy
Objective signs that can be assessed by the provider, physical assessment findings
Positive pregnancy test, uterine enlargement,Hegar’ssign, Goodell’s sign, Chadwick’s sign
Positive signs of pregnancy
Signs of pregnancy that can only be present if there is a fetus present
FHR auscultation, fetal movement palpated by provider, U/S of fetus
Uterus change in pregnancy
enlarges, becomes an abdominal organ, ++↑ blood flow
CVS change in pregnancy
↑CO, HR, & blood volume, ↓BP (DBP morethan SBP)↓PVR
RESP change in pregnancy
↑ O2 consumption,elevated diaphragm, ↑ minuteventilation ↓ CO2