Physiological Adaptations To Pregnancy Flashcards
What happens to blood volume and why?
Blood volume increases by 40%
To supply the placenta and baby
What happens during haemodilution?
Haemoglobin in pregnant women drops and there is more plasma but no increase to RBC
What happens to cardiac output?
Increases from 6 weeks gestation
what happens to RBC?
They expand in size to meet requirements of foetus and placenta
Why does folate metabolite increase?
Required for foetus growth
Helps with iron development
What happens to blood and why?
Able to clot more easily as changes to haemostatic components
Helpful in stopping bleeding post partum
What’s happens to the heart?
Size increases
Blood volume and cardiac output increases as more blood is pumped around the body
Faster heart rate
Why does the heart rate increase?
Peripheral resistance is decreased
What happens to breasts during pregnancy?
Increased blood flow to grow mammary glands for breastfeeding
Liver?
Increased metabolism
Why do pregnant women feel warmer?
Increased blood flow to skin and nose
Nosebleeds likley
Consequences of reduced venous blood return in the legs
Veracous veins and haemorrhoids
What happens to the respiratory system?
Diaphragm is pushed upwards
Diameter of chest increases
What’s does an increase to inspirational capacity mean?
Women will breathe more
What does progesterone do to the respiratory centre?
Mum becomes more sensitive to CO2
will take CO2 from baby more easily
Mum may feel out of breath when sitting down
Consequence of elongated ureters
Kinks may form
UTI
Why must tubular reabsorption increase?
To prevent loss of calcium, sodium, chloride and water
Which hormone is responsible for the kidney changes?
Progesterone
Why do someone women pee themselves?
Decrease in bladder tone
Why do women get swelling in their legs and ankles?
Water retention
Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system is altered
Why do pregnant women get more hungry?
Progesterone is an appetite stimulant
Pica
Craving non food substances
Why do gums become swollen and bleed easily?
Drop in saliva pH therefore more acidity
Why does heartburn happen?
Progesterone relaxes cardiac sphincter so gastric acid can enter the oesophagus
What happens in the stomach?
Progesterone reduces stomach mobility so food takes longer to diesgt and more nutrients can be absorbed
Why does constipation happen?
More water is absorbed due to increase transit time
Why does the anterior pituitary gland gain 30-50% in weight?
Due to prolactin secreting cells
What does fetoplacental hormones do?
Influence the pituitary gland to inhibit FSH and LH
hCG release
What does the thyroid gland do?
Hyperthyroidism is mimicked and foetus requires thyroxine
Consequences of cortisol levels increase
Insulin resistance
Gestational diabetes
Fat stores begin to break down
The uterus
Increases in size and weight
Blood flow increases by 10 fold
Function of oestrogen
Promotes muscle fibre growth
Function of progesterone
Maintenance of inactivity of myometrium so uterus does not contract so no early Labour
Cervix
Fall in smooth muscle from fungus to cervix
Increase in mass and water content
Progesterone cause endocervical cells to secrete mucus (mucus plug) which blocked any infections
Oestradiol
Makes cervix more likely to get damaged
Changes to vagina
Shedding of epithelium superficial cells (more discharge)
pH becomes more acidic to fight infection
More likely to get thrush
