Pregnancy Flashcards
1
Q
Hormonal changes in pregnant women
A
- Lead to extensive anatomical and physiologic changes in every major body system
- Increases in levels of estradiol, progesterone, and the pregnancy hormones (especially HCG) drive many of the pregnancy-related endocrine and metabolic changes
2
Q
cardiovascular changes in pregnant women
A
- Erythrocyte mass and plasma volume increase
- Cardiac output increases
- Systemic vascular resistance and pressure fall
3
Q
musculoskeletal changes in pregnant women
A
- Ensue from weight gain and the hormone relaxin
- Lumbar lordosis
- Ligamentous laxity in the SI joints and pubic symphysis
4
Q
breast changes in pregnant women
A
- Enlarge moderately
- -Hormone stimulation
- -Increased vascularity
- -Hyperplasia of glandular tissue
- Become more nodular by 3rd month of pregnancy
- From mid-to-late pregnancy
- -Colostrum may be expressed (milky discharge)
- -Areolae darken so the baby can see the nipple
- -Montgomery’s glands are more pronounced (nipple lubrication)
- -Venous pattern increasingly visible
5
Q
uterus in pregnant women
A
- Most easily palpable beyond 12 to 14 weeks when it straightens (from early anteverted position) and rises up out of the pelvis
- As uterus enlarges, it rotates to the right to accommodate the rectosigmoid structures on the left side of the pelvis
6
Q
vagina in pregnant women
A
- Walls appear thicker and deeply rugated
- Vaginal secretions are thick, white, and more profuse
7
Q
cervix in pregnant women
A
- Chadwick’s sign, Hegar’s sign
- Mucous plug
8
Q
chadwick’s sign
A
- blue or purple discoloration of the cervix because of vascular congestion
- increase in estrogen and cardiovascular changes
9
Q
hegar’s sign
A
softening of the cervix
10
Q
ovaries in pregnant women
A
changes generally not noticeable on physical examination
11
Q
1st trimester
A
up to 14 weeks, neurologic development, many miscarriages happen here
12
Q
2nd trimester
A
14-27 weeks, organ development and growth
13
Q
3rd trimester
A
28 weeks to birth, mostly growth
14
Q
prenatal care visits
A
- Initial visit
- -Confirm the pregnancy with lab tests, US
- -Assess the health status of the mother
- –Risk stratification for fetus & mother
- -Counsel mother to ensure a healthy pregnancy
- Subsequent visits
- -Assess health status of the mother
- -Assess fetus
- -Educate to ensure a healthy pregnancy
15
Q
at every prenatal care visit:
A
- At every visit check:
- -Weight
- -BP
- -Urinalysis
- –Glucose, protein, asymptomatic UTI
- -Examine for edema, fundal height, fetal heart tones
- Other examination techniques and diagnostic studies may be ordered depending on the gestational age and maternal complaints