Pregnancy Flashcards
What is the duration of pregnancy and from when is it calculated?
40 weeks
Measured from 1st day of last menstrual period
What are the % increases of blood volume and plasma volume during pregnancy?
Blood volume increases 20%
Plasma volume increases 50%
What percentage of women experience oedema?
60-75%
Do blood lipid levels increase or decrease during pregnancy?
Increase
Which maternal organs and tissues show the greatest degree of enlargement?
Heart, Thyroid, Liver, Kidneys, Uterus, Breasts, Adipose Tissue
What changes take place to cardiac output, stroke volume and heart rate during pregnancy?
Cardiac output increases due to
a) increased stroke volume (30-50%)
b) increased heart rate (16% or 6 bpm)
Describe the changes seen in blood pressure throughout pregnancy
Initial decrease in first half of pregnancy (29%) followed by return to non-pregnancy levels for second half
By what percentage does tidal volume increase during pregnancy?
30-40%
What are the 4 main GI issues associated with pregnancy?
Nausea (70%)
Vomiting (30%)
Heartburn
Constipation
What kidney changes take place throughout pregnancy?
50-60% increase in glomerular filtration
Increased sodium conservation
Increased nutrient spillage into urine
Increased risk of UTI
What is the role of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG)?
a) Stimulates the corpus luteum to produce estrogen and progesterone which maintains early pregnancy (after 2 months placenta takes over)
b) Stimulates growth of the endometrium.
What is the role of Progesterone in pregnancy?
a) Maintains the implant
b) Stimulates growth of the endometrium and its secretion of nutrients
c) Relaxes smooth muscles of the uterine blood vessels and gastrointestinal tract
d) Stimulates breast development
e) Promotes lipid deposition.
What role does oetrogen play during pregnancy?
a) Increases lipid formation and storage, protein synthesis, and uterine blood flow
b) Prompts uterine and breast duct development
What is the role of Human Chorionic Somatotropin (hCS) in pregnancy?
a) Increases maternal insulin resistance to maintain glucose availability for fetal use
b) Promotes protein synthesis and the breakdown of fat for energy for maternal use
What role does leptin play in pregnancy?
May participate in the regulation of appetite and lipid metabolism, weight gain, and utilization of fat stores.
List the increases in weight (kg) for each of the following:
- Foetus
- Placenta
- Uterus
- Amniotic Fluid
- Breast Tissue
- Blood Supply
- Extracellular Fluid
- Maternal Fat Stores
- Total Weight Gain
- Foetus - 3.4kg
- Placenta - 0.7kg
- Uterus - 0.9kg
- Amniotic Fluid - 0.9kg
- Breast Tissue - 0.9kg
- Blood Supply - 1.8kg
- Extracellular Fluid - 1.8kg
- Maternal Fat Stores - 3.2kg
- Total Weight Gain - 13.6kg
Approximately how many grams of protein are accumulated throughout pregnancy?
925g
What is increased cholesterol supply utilised for during pregnancy?
steroid hormone synthesis (placenta)
nerve and cell membrane formation (foetus)