GI Tract Flashcards
Changes in pregnancy specific to sense of smell and taste
Inflammation and hypersecretion of the nasal mucosa may alter sense of smell and therefore taste
Changes in appetite
Progesterone is an appetite stimulant
Define pica
Craving Of non-food substances
Cravings
Cravings and aversion certain to foods
Changes to saliva
Pytalism gravidarum, excess salivation, saliva may taste bitter causing nausea and vomiting
Gums
Oestrogen causes to gums to become spongy and bleed easily
Changes to stomach during pregnancy
Progesterone reduces gastric muscle tone and motility so food is more likely to be left in stomach longer as gastric emptying is delayed
during labour, reduced stomach motility leads to risk of gastric aspiration where acid comes back up and leaks into lung so given antacid before surgery
Changes in small intestine
Calcium and iron absorption increases
and progesterone reduces motility and muscle tone
So transit time is increased
Changes in large intestine
Progesterone relaxes smooth muscle, which slows peristalsis and can cause constipation more water absorbed from stool so dryer and so harder for stool to move
Changes in rectum in pregnancy
In labour, thefetal head may press the rectum stimulating the urgeto defecate
Changes in anal in pregnancy
Damage to the sphincter or its nerve supply occur in childbirth = obstetric anal sphincter (OASI/ 3rd or 4th degree tear) resulting in incontinences of faeces
describe a good diet
carbohydrates, increased protein for fetal, placental and maternal tissue development, fruit and vegetables, vitamin C, iron, calcium, vitamin D, folate
give an example of a good diet
carbs: bread, potatoes, rice
protein: fish, eggs, pulses, nuts
Vitamin C: orange juice,
iron: red meat, oily fish, soya products, eggs
calcium: dairy
vitamin D:
folate: dark green leafy veg
