Maternal physiological adaptations to pregnancy Flashcards
What are the pregnancy hormones
Progesterone Oestrogen Placental prolactin Placental lactogens Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) Aldosterone EPO
What produces progesterone in pregnancy
Corpus lute and then placenta
What produces oestrogen in pregnancy
Placenta and fetes
How does fetus protect itself from secreted hormones
Placental polarity/barrier
Fetus can conjugate steroids to sulphates making them biologically inactive
What does placental prolactin do
Breast chances, behavioural changes
What do placental lactogens do
For maternal insulin and glucose metabolism, lipolysis, EPO
What does cirticotropin releasing hormone do
- where is it released from
- What are the risks of increased levels
Leads to increased secretion of cortisol from mother- its a stress response
Released from placenta
Increased levels can affect nutrient transfer and the placental clock. Risks can be pre-term labour, early parturition signals
What does aldosterone affect
Plasma volume
What does EPO affect
Red blood cells
What cytokines are released in pregnancy
Pro-inflammatory interleukins, TGF-beta
What vasodilatory mediators are released in pregnancy and use
VEGF, NO (for vasodilation and angiogenesis)
how does uterus change in pregnancy
Expands and increases in weight
How does uterine musculature change in pregnancy
Hypertrophy. Needed for expulsion of fetus at parturition
What happens to heart during pregnancy
Apex of heart moved to anterior and to the left (pushed up and rotated forwards)
Left ventricular hypertrophy to cope with increased maternal cardiac output
What happens to calcium concentrations in pregnancy
Increased intestinal calcium absorption, maternal bone loss may occur in last trimester and lactation. Reversible
What happens to blood volume in pregnancy and how does this occur
Increase (over 40%)
Stimulation of RAAs- aldosterone leads to increased sodium and water retention so increased plasma volume
What happens to red cell mass during pregnancy and why
Increases linearly
Increased renal EPO increases red cell mass
What happens to hematocrit and haemoglobin during pregnancy and why
advantage of this
Fall. Because plasma volume increases more than cell mass
Advantage- decreased viscosity leads to reduced resistance in flow so better placental perfusion
What happens to haemoglobin during pregnancy and why is this beneficial
50% higher. Useful protection against any blood loss at delivery
What will help restore haemoglobin levels in pregnant women
Iron and folic acid
What relaxes smooth muscle cells of arteries
VEGF
PLGF
NO
Progesterone