Final Flashcards
(124 cards)
Where is the uterus at 20 weeks gestation?
at the umbilicus
What are Braxton Hicks contractions? When do they occur?
irregular, painless, intermittent contractions that facilitate uterine blood flow through the placenta to promote oxygen delivery to the fetus
-can be felt after 4th month of pregnancy
What is the Goodell sign?
softening of the cervical tip, around the 6 week
What is the Chadwick sign?
violet-bluish color of the vaginal mucosa and cervix, due to increased vascularity, evident as early as the 6th week of pregnancy
What is Leukhorrhea?
a white or slightly gray mucoid discharge with a faint musty odor. Response to cervical stimulation by estogen and progesterone. Never bloody. Forms the operculum (or mucus plug)
What is the operculum?
mucus plug, acts as a barrier against bacterial invasion during pregnancy
When can quickening be felt?
14-16 weeks
What are some of the cardiovascular adaptations to pregnancy?
- Heart and lungs will be elevated and shift to the left from enlarged uterus
- Increased blood volume and cardiac output may lead to transient murmurs
- Pulse increases
- BP: systolic usually stays the same or slightly decreases, diastolic decreases then gradually increases by term
- Supine hypotensive syndrome can occur
- increase in clotting factors (lead to increased risk for clots/DVT/stroke)
Between ___ and ____ weeks of gestation, the pulse increases approximately ___ to ____ bpm
14 and 20 weeks
10-15 bpm
How does blood pressure change throughout pregnancy?
- Systolic usually remains the same, may decrease slightly as pregnancy advances
- Diastolic begins to decrease in the first trimester, continues to drop until 24-32 weeks, then gradually increases and returns to prepregnancy levels by term
What are some of the respiratory adaptations to pregnancy?
- Oxygen requirements increase (leads to increased basal metabolic rate)
- Estrogen causes increased chest expansion
- Diaphragm is displaced, thoracic breathing replaces abdominal breathing
- Upper respiratory tact becomes more vascular (due to estrogen) and creates congestion
- Lowered threshold for carbon dioxide (become more aware of the need to breathe), slight pH increase
Pregnant women are often in a state of what acid-base balance?
Compensatory Respiratory Alkalosis
What are some of the renal adaptations to pregnancy?
- Renal pelves and ureters dilate, which leads to larger volume of urine held and urine flow rate is slowed (urinary stasis)
- Bladder irritability, nocturia, urinary frequency and urgency
- GFR and renal plasma flow (RPF) increase
- Additional sodium is retained
Changes in the renal structure during pregnancy result from… (3 things)
- Hormonal activity (estrogen and progesterone)
- Pressure from an enlarging uterus
- Increase in blood volume
What causes urinary frequency in pregnancy?
initially from increased bladder sensitivity and later from compression of the bladder
Why does GFR and renal plasma flow (RPF) increase in pregnancy?
Mother must manage increased metabolic & circulatory demands and waste products of fetus
Why is additional sodium retained during pregnancy?
Because of the need for increased maternal fluid (intravascular and extracellular) sodium is needed to expand fluid volume and to maintain an isotonic state
How do we increase renal perfusion and function in a pregnant mother?
Put her on her side
-Never give diuretics for excess fluid in a pregnant woman, it will pull off to much fluid
What are some of the integumentary adaptations to pregnancy?
Darkening of the nipples, areolae, axillae, and vulva (~16 weeks) Chloasma Linea nigra Striae gravidarum (stretch marks) Palmar erythema (due to estrogen) Gum hypertrophy
What are some of the musculoskeletal adaptations during pregnancy?
Weight changes Abdominal distention Center of Gravity Changes Increase in lumbar and dorsal curves Waddling Diastasis rect abdominis (separation of the rectus abdominis)
What hormone, other than estrogen, aids in relaxation and softening of joints and tissues?
Relaxin, an ovarian hormone
What are some of the neurological adaptations to pregnancy?
Sensory changes in legs/hands
h/a, sciatica, hypocalcemia
Vasomotor instability
Postural hypotension
What are some of the GI adaptations to pregnancy?
Appetite: Pica cravings
Mouth: estrogen causes gums to bleed
Esophagus, stomach, and intestines: constipation and heartburn
Gallbladder and liver: thick bile, decreased emptying time
Abdominal discomfort
What causes constipation and heartburn during pregnancy?
increased progesterone = decreased GI motility/constipation and “heartburn