Pregnancy physiology Flashcards
Effect of hormone relaxin?
Relaxes all of the joints in the body
* S curve of the spine increases
* Knees are hyperextended
* Flat feet
* Pubic symphysis widens
Why might women get heartburn/reflux
- OS relaxes/loosens
- increased pressure on stomach
In the 3rd trimester the body becomes catabolic
a. true
b. false
a. true
fat stores are broken down quickly
What happens to the blood volume during pregancy
increases by 50-70%
- increased bloodflow
- increased CO
- increased SV
There is increased BMR (basal metabolic rate) during pregnancy
a. true
b. false
a. true
and therefore increased 02 consumption
What happens to CO when pregnant women is laying in a supine position
reduced by 25% (reduce venous return)
if need CPR - do not lay flat -> lateral tilt to move uterus up and across
does plasma volume increase or decrease
increase
does CO increase or decrease
increase
does SV increase or decrease
increase
does total peripheral vascular resistance increase or decrease
decreases
does DBP and SBP increase or decrease?
should decrease until end of pregnancy
how does CO change during labour?
Increases by 10%
extra1/2 litre of blood is pumped into the system with every contraction
stays elevated by 80% in the hour post labour
does RR increase or decrease
increases
does tidal volume increase or decrease
increases
does functional residual capacity increase or decrease
decrease - there is pressure on diaphragm - lifted upwards (less space)
does PC02 increase or decrease
decreases
02 increases
where does 02Hb curve move during pregnancy
to the right - maternal hb is giving up 02 to foetal hb
effect of pregnancy on renal blood flow
60-80% increase in renal plasma flow by the end of second trimester
(GFR increases and creatine clearance increases by 50%)
effect of pregnancy on protein excretion
more protein is excreted due to increased GFR
-> can lead to oedema (80% of women)
why might there be dilatation of the urinary collecting system during pregnancy
progesterone opens tubules, ureters stretch (usually more prononced on right side)
- can present with microscopic haematuria
Effects of increased renal blood flow during pregancy
- increased protein excretion - oedema
- increased glucose excretion (dilatation)
- increased urea and creatine excretion
why might women get a UTI during pregnancy
bladder is not emptying - stasis due to pressure
does urate increase or decrease during pregnancy
increase
What type of anaemia is the most common in pregnant women
iron deficient - there is a 2-3 fold increase in iron
- iron stores go to the foetus
why does RBC and platelet count drop during pregnancy
diluted (increased plasma volume)
there is a 10-20 fold increase in folate requirements during pregnancy
a. true
b. false
a. true
check B12 is normal first
does WCC increase or decrease
increase
why is iron deficiency anaemia common in pregnancy
During pregnancy, the body’s blood volume increases, which means more iron is needed to make more blood to supply oxygen to the baby.
If there isn’t enough iron, iron deficiency anemia can develop.