Normal Pregnancy

Question 1

At what stage in pregnancy will the maternal blood volume increase?

Answer 1

8-9 weeks

Question 2

What is the physiological anaemia of pregnancy and what causes it?

Answer 2

As blood volume and red cell mass increase the relative amount of Hb during pregnancy is lower.

Question 3

What is the normal resting HR for a pregnancy woman

Answer 3

around 90 bpm

Question 4

Typically what hormone regulates engery consumption, and respiratory control in pregnancy?

Answer 4

Progesterone

Question 5

Typically in pregnancy what hormone controls the blood volume, blood constituents and coagulation in pregnancy?

Answer 5

Oestrogen

Question 6

What changes occur in the urinary tract during pregnancy?

Answer 6

Hypertrophy of kidneys

Relaxation of uterus due to progesterone can press on ureters

Frequency increases due to increase in renal blood flow

Question 7

What changes are seen in the GI tract in pregnancy?

Answer 7

progesterone causes smooth muscle contraction and so gut motility is reduced leading to constipation

Haemorrhoids grow and become painful ass uterus presses on IVC leading to venous pooling - made worse by constipation and straining

Heartburn is common in pregnancy and is caused by the oesophageal sprinter being more relaxed

Question 8

What happens to the thyroid during pregnancy and why?

Answer 8

The thyroid can enlarge because raised filtration in the kidneys means more iodine is lost and so the thyroid enlarges to compensate

Question 9

What can happen to the respiratory system during pregnancy?

Answer 9

Lung volume initially increases to allow the foetus to offload excess waste gas but then decreases as the uterus takes up more space

Respiratory centres lower CO2 from 6 to 4 which means that woman can become dizzy after exercise due to low CO2. Bicarbonate is also low to compensate resp. acidosis

Question 10

What is the average weight gain in pregnancy?

Answer 10

12kg