PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES OF PREGNANCY

Question 1

depth of the uterus increases from 2.5cm to __cm

Answer 1

22

Question 2

width of uterus increases from 4cm to __cm

Answer 2

24

Question 3

weight increases from 50g to ___g

Answer 3

1000g

Question 4

early in the pregnancy, the uterine wall thickens from about 1cm to __cm

Answer 4

2

Question 5

toward the end of pregnancy, the wall thins to become supple and only about __ thick.

Answer 5

0.5cm

Question 6

The volume of the uterus increases from about 2 ml to more than __ml

Answer 6

1000

Question 7

This settling of the fetus into the midpelvis is termed __ because a woman’s breathing is so much easier that she feels as if her load is lightened.

Answer 7

lightening

Question 8

measured from the top of the symphysis pubis to over the top of the uterine fundus

Answer 8

uterine height

Question 9

absence of menstruation

Answer 9

amenorrhea

Question 10

the cervix of the uterus becomes more __ and __ than usual.

Answer 10

vascular and edematous

Question 11

forms to seal out bacteria and help
prevent infection in the fetus and
membranes.

Answer 11

mucus plug called operculum

Question 12

Under the influence of estrogen, the vaginal epithelium and underlying tissues increase in size as they become enriched with __

Answer 12

glycogen

Question 13

Vaginal secretions before pregnancy have a pH value greater than __

Answer 13

7

Question 14

During pregnancy, the pH level falls to __ (an acid pH), which helps make the vagina resistant to bacterial invasion for the length of the pregnancy

Answer 14

4 or 5

Question 15

The corpus luteum, no longer essential for the continuation of the pregnancy, __ in size and appears white

Answer 15

regresses

Question 16

__ may be one of the first physiologic changes of pregnancy a woman notices (at about 6 weeks)

Answer 16

subtle changes in breast

Question 17

The areola of the nipple darkens, and its diameter increases from about 3.5 cm (1.5 in.) to __

Answer 17

5 cm or 7.5 cm (2 or 3 in.)

Question 18

enlarge and become
prominent ; sebaceous glands

Answer 18

montgomery’s tubercles

Question 19

the thin, watery, high-protein fluid that is the precursor of breast milk ; appears in the 16th week

Answer 19

colostrum

Question 20

This stretching (plus possibly
increased adrenal cortex
activity) can cause rupture and atrophy of small segments of the connective layer of the skin, leading to streaks on the sides of the abdominal wall and sometimes on the thighs

Answer 20

striae gravidarum

Question 21

During the months after birth, striae gravidarum lighten to a silvery color

Answer 21

striae albicantes or atrophicae

Question 22

Often, the abdominal wall
has difficulty stretching
enough to accommodate
the growing fetus, causing the rectus muscles underneath the skin to actually separate

Answer 22

diastasis recti

Question 23

Extra pigmentation
generally appears on the
abdominal wall because
of melanocyte stimulating hormone from the pituitary. A narrow, brown line may form, running from the umbilicus to the symphysis pubis and separating the abdomen into right and left halves

Answer 23

(linea nigra)

Question 24

Darkened or reddened areas
may appear on the face as well, particularly on the cheeks and across the nose. ; mask of pregnancy

Answer 24

melasma (chloasma)

Question 25

small, fiery red branching spots sometimes seen on the skin of pregnant women, particularly on the thighs

Answer 25

VASCULARSPIDERS/TELANGIECTASI

Question 26

→ redness and itching on the hands → increase estrogen level

Answer 26

palmar erythema

Question 27

Toward the end of pregnancy, enlargement of the uterus can actually displace the diaphragm by as much as __

Answer 27

4 cm upward.

Question 28

Two major changes do occur with pregnancy:

Answer 28

a more rapid than usual breathing rate (18 to 20 breaths/min) and a chronic feeling of shortness of breath

Question 29

Blood loss in normal vaginal birth is about

Answer 29

300 to 400ml

Question 30

blood loss from a cesarian birth is much higher

Answer 30

800-1000 ml

Question 31

Plasma volume first increases, the concentration of hemoglobin and erythrocytes may decline giving the women

Answer 31

pseudoanemia

Question 32

Cardiac output increased by

Answer 32

25 to 50%

Question 33

Heart rate increase by

Answer 33

10 bpm

Question 34

When a pregnant women lie supine, the weight of the growing uterus presses the vena cava against the vertebrae obstructing blood flow from the lower extremities

Answer 34

supine hypotension syndrome

Question 35

a hormone produced by the ovary, may contribute to decrease gastric motility

Answer 35

relaxin

Question 36

There also may be increased saliva formation, probably as a local response to increased levels of estrogen.

Answer 36

(hyperptyalism)

Question 37

This softening of the pelvic ligaments and joints is probably caused by the influence of both the ovarian hormone and placental.

Answer 37

relaxin and progesterone

Question 38

To change her center of gravity and make ambulation easier, a pregnant woman tends to stand straighter and taller than usual. This stance is sometimes referred to as the

Answer 38

pride of pregnancy

Question 39

causes breast and uterine enlargement

Answer 39

estrogen

Question 40

during early pregnancy may also be a response to the high circulating estrogen levels

Answer 40

palmar erythema

Question 41

maintaining the endometrium, inhibiting uterine contractility and aiding in the development of the breast for lactation

Answer 41

progesterone

Question 42

secreted primarily by the corpus luteum is responsible for helping inhibit uterine activity and soften the cervix and collagen and joints. Softening of the cervix allows for dilatation at delivery. Softening of collagen allows for laxness in the lower spine helps enlarge the birth canal

Answer 42

relaxin

Question 43

is secreted by the trophoblast cells in the placenta in early pregnancy. It stimulate progesterone and estrogen synthesis until the placenta can assume this role

Answer 43

human chorionic gonadotropin

Question 44

is also produced by the placenta, it serves as an antagonist to insulin, making insulin less effective, thereby allowing more glucose to become available for fetal growth.

Answer 44

human chorionic somatomammotropin

Question 45

are found in high concentration in the female reproductive track and the decidua during pregnancy. Prostaglandin affect smooth muscle contractility to such an extent, they may be triggered that initiates labor at term

Answer 45

prostaglandin