Maternity Ch. 4 Flashcards
What does increased estrogen and progesterone levels do to the breast?
- Tenderness, feeling of fullness, and tingling sensation
- Enlargement of breasts, nipples, areola, and Montgomery follicles (small glands on the areola around the nipple)
- Striae
- Increase blood flow
Striae
Due to stretching of skin to accommodate enlarging breast tissue
Colostrum
Yellow secretion rich in antibodies and begins to be produced as early as 16 weeks
How big can the uterus stretch?
And the purpose of the enlargement?
- 20x of pre=pregnant uterus
- To accommodate developing fetus and placenta
pH of vagina
And can lead to?
Acidic environment inhibits growth of bacteria
-Acidic environment allows growth of Candida albicans, leading to increased risk of candidiasis (yeast infection)
Cardiac changes with pregnancy. What happens with:
- Peripheral vascular resistance
- Blood volume
- Cardiac output
- Position of heart
- Decrease PRV = decrease BP
- Increase blood volume = hypervolemia of pregnancy
- Increase cardiac output = increase heart rate
- Heart moves up and lateral due to uterus getting bigger and places the diaphragm
Supine Hypotension
In supine position the enlarged uterus compresses the inferior vena cava, causing reduced blood flow back to the right atrium and a drop in cardiac output and blood pressure
S/S of supine hypotension
- Dizzy
- Faint
- Shallow and fast respirations
3 parts of the uterus
Fundus (upper)
Isthmus (lower segment)
Cervix (lower narrow part)
Estrogen, progesterone, and prostaglandins cause vascular engorgement and smooth muscle relaxation which leads to
Dyspnea
Nasal and sinus congestion Epistaxis
Renal changes during pregnancy
Urinary frequency and incontinence and increased risk of UTI
-Urine amount stays the same
What causes n/v during early pregnancy?
Increased levels of hCG and altered carb metabolism
What causes bloating, flatulence, and constipation?
Increased progesterone levels relax smooth muscle to slow the digestive process and movement of stool
What causes heartburn?
Increased progesterone levels slow stomach emptying and relax the esophageal sphincter
Pica
Abnormal; craving for and ingestion of nonfood substances such as clay or starch
- *Know what pt is eating
- **Leads to malnutrition
What happens to the musculoskeletal system with increases progesterone and relaxin levels?
lead to softening of joints and increased joint mobility, resulting in widening and increased mobility of the sacroiliac and symphysis pubis.
***Leads to increase risk of falls
S/S of pregnancy’s effect on musculoskeletal system
Altered gait: “Waddle” gait
Low back pain or pelvic discomfort
Increased risk of falls due to shift in center of gravity and change in gait and posture
Effects of integumentary system
Estrogen and progesterone levels stimulate increased melanin deposition, causing light brown to dark brown pigmentation.
Linea Nigra
pregnancy line, is a linear hyperpigmentation that commonly appears on the abdomen
Melasma (chloasma)
“mask of pregnancy”
darker pigments on cheeks, nose, and forehead
Happens mostly to darker pigmented moms
Fxn of endocrine system during pregancy
Makes hormones until placenta is ready
What must immune system do?
adaptive process involves the maternal immune system becoming tolerant of the “foreign” fetal system so that the fetus is not rejected and is protected from infection
Presumptive Signs of Pregnancy
(Subjective - could happen outside of pregnancy and are not considered diagnostic)
● Amenorrhea: Absence of menstruation
● Nausea and vomiting: Common from week 2 through 12
● Breast changes: Changes begin to appear at 2 to 3 weeks
-Enlargement, tenderness, and tingling
-Increased vascularity
● Fatigue: Common during the first trimester
● Urination frequency: Related to pressure of enlarging uterus on bladder; decreases as uterus moves upward and out of pelvis
● Quickening (does not happen right away like a missed period does!) : A woman’s first awareness of fetal movement; occurs around 18 to 20 weeks’ gestation in primigravidas (between 14 and 16 weeks in multigravidas)