hormonal changes in pregnancy

Question 1

what is the role of HCG

Answer 1

prevents degeneration of the corpus luteum in 1st 12 weeks

Question 2

what does the corpus luteum secrete

Answer 2

progesteron, oestrogen and inhibin

Question 3

where is human placental lactogen (human chorionic sommatomammotropin) secreted from and what is its role ?

Answer 3

syncytiotrophoblasts of placenta. GH like effect, decreases insuling sensitivity in mother. also involved in maternal breast development

Question 4

increased levels of what hormone cause hyperemesis in pregnancy

Answer 4

HCG

Question 5

how much should hcg increase every 48 hrs

Answer 5

should double every 2 days

Question 6

in what kinds of pregnancies would you expect to see high levels of hcg

Answer 6

molar pregnancies or multiple pregnancies

Question 7

role of progesterone

Answer 7

stimulates growth of endometrium, growth of maternal breast tissue, prevents lactation and decreasing uterine contractibility until labour

Question 8

role of oestrogen in pregnancy

Answer 8

enlarges uterus, breast developement, relaxes ligaments, increases uterine contractibility nearer labour

Question 9

how much does cardiac output increase in pregancy and when does this peak ?

Answer 9

increases by about 30-50% and peaks at wk 24

Question 10

what does heart rate increase to in pregnancy

Answer 10

about 90/min

Question 11

what is the normal patter on blood pressure in pregnancy

Answer 11

BP will decrease during second trimester and return to pre-pregnancy levels in the third

Question 12

how much does erythropoiesis increase in pregnancy ?

Answer 12

increases by 25%

Question 13

does pCO2 increase or decrease in pregnancy

Answer 13

it decreases as progesterone tells brain to decrease pCO2 levels therefore more O2 in blood

Question 14

what happens to gfr and renal plasma flow in pregnancy

Answer 14

they both increase

Question 15

what is the average weight gain in pregnancy ?

Answer 15

11kg

Question 16

how many extra calories should a pregnant woman eat a day

Answer 16

200kcal

Question 17

when is the anabolic phase in pregnancy

Answer 17

wk 1-20

Question 18

when is the mothers catabolic phase in pregnancy and what does this mean

Answer 18

week 21-40 - accelerated starvation of the mother. developed insulin resistance (maybe GDM), increased placental nutrition transport and lipolysis

Question 19

what hormones cause insulin resistance in pregnancy

Answer 19

Human Placental Lactogen, GH and Cortisol

Question 20

what effect does oxytocin have on uterus

Answer 20

stimulates it to contract and to make prostaglandins, further increasing contractions

Question 21

what hormone is responsible for milk production and what is responsible for the ‘let-down reflex’

Answer 21

prolactin causes milk production and oxytocin causes milk release