Week 14: Maternal Anatomy & Physiology Flashcards
What is the earliest sign of pregnancy?
A missed menstrual period
How long does pregnancy last?
266 from time of conception
280 days from first day of the last menstrual period
How is delivery date estimated?
Based on the last menstrual period
What is classified as a normal range for delivery?
2 weeks before or after estimated date
When is delivery considered preterm?
Before 37 weeks gestation
When is delivery considered post term?
After 42 weeks gestation
How does cardiac output change in pregnancy?
- increases to 30-50% more by 6 weeks gestation and peaking between 16-28 weeks
- increases another 30% during labour
- after delivery uterus contracts, cardiac output drops rapidly to about 15-25% above normal
- continues to gradually decrease
How do white blood cells change during pregnancy?
- wbc count increases to 9000-12,000/mcL
- marked leukocytes occurs during labour and the first few days postpartum
- normal adult range is 4500-10500 cells per micro litre
How does iron change during pregnancy?
- iron requirements increase by 1g during entire pregnancy and are high in second half of pregnancy- 6-7mg/day
- foetus and placenta use 300mg of iron and increased maternal rbc mass requires additional 500mcg
How much iron does excretion account for?
200mg
What are needed to prevent further decrease in Hb levels during pregnancy?
Iron supplements
What are the functions of the placenta?
- protection
- nutrition
- respiration
- excretion
- hormone production
What makes up the placenta?
Union of maternal decidua and foetal chorionic vlli and its connected to the foetus by the umbilical
When is the placenta formed?
During the 6th to 12th weeks of pregnancy
What shape and size is a fulled developed placenta?
- disc shaped
- 15-20cm in diameter
- 2-5cm in thickness
- weighs about 500g
What is the function of oestrogen before pregnancy?
- helps mature uterine lining
- triggers ovulation
- fosters embryo growth
What is the function oestrogen during pregnancy?
- causes bodily changes
- stimulates prolactin secretion
- prompts uterine contractions
What is the function of oestrogen after pregnancy?
- low levels during nursing
- might lead to vaginal dryness and low libido
- normalises with menstruation
What id the function of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
- produced via the placenta after implantation
- supports the function of the corpus lute, a temporary structure in the overages essential in early pregnancy
- the hormone that is detected by pregnancy tests
What is the function of progesterone?
- helps establish the placenta
- stimulates growth of blood vessels that supply the womb and inhibits contraction of the uterus so It grows as the baby does
- strengthens pelvic wall muscles for labour
What is the function of oestrogen?
- helps the uterus grown
- maintains uterus lining
- helps foetal organs develop
- activates and regulates production of other hormones
- with progesterone, stimulates breast growth and milk duct development
Where produces hCG and what week of pregnancy does this hormone peak?
- produced via the placenta
- peaks at week 10
Where is progesterone produced from and when does it peak?
- produced by corpus luteum in 0-10 weeks
- produced by placenta 10+ weeks
- peaks at 35 weeks
What produced oestrogen and when does it peak?
- produced by the corpus lute 0-10 feels
- produced by placenta 10+ weeks
- peaks at 35 weeks
What is the function of prolactin?
- the main hormone needed to produce breast milk
- contributes to the enlargement of mammary glands and prepares them for milk production
- progesterone inhibits lactation during pregnancy
What is prolactin produced by and when does it peak?
- produced by the piturity gland
- peaks at 40+ weeks
What is the function of Relaxin?
- inhibits uterus contraction to prevent premature birth
- relaxes blood vessels, increasing blood flow to the placenta and kindeys
- relaxes the joints of the pelvis and softens and lengthens the cervix during birth
What is relaxin produced by and when does it peak?
- produced by the corpus luteum in 0-10 weeks
- produced by the placenta 10+ weeks
- peaks between 5-10 weeks
What is the function of oxytocin?
- levels rise at the start of labour
- stimulates contractions of uterine muscle
- it triggers production of prostaglandins which increase contraction further
- if labour doesn’t start naturally, it can be used to induce it
What produces oxytocin and and when do these levels rise?
- produced by the pitruity gland
- levels rise at the start of labour
What is a blastocyst?
A cluster of dividing cells made by a fertilised egg, the early stage of an embryo
When does a blastocyst form?
5-6 days after sperm fertilises the egg
What happens within the first month of pregnancy?
- start of the first trimester
- ovulation and conception
- during week 4 some home pregnancy tests will detect that you have conceived
- the embryo is just two cells
What happens in month 2 of pregnancy?
- signs of pregnancy: extreme fatigue, frequent urination, morning sickness and hormonal fluctuations
- the baby’s heart is beating
- the baby’s brain is formed
What happens in month 3 of the pregnancy?
- embryo officially becomes a foetus
- decreased morning sickness
- fetus is about the size of a plum
What happens in month 4 of pregnancy?
- start of the second trimester
- the baby’s bone are hardening and will now show up on an x-ray
- the babu is about 5 inches long and weights about 5 ounces
What happens in the 5 month of pregnancy?
- you begin to feel the baby start to kick
- the baby’s hearing starts to develop
- common discomforts during this month: backaches, indigestion, heartburn, headaches, water retention, dizziness, constipation
What happens in the 6th month of pregnancy?
- this month marks the halfway mark in your pregnancy
- ay the end of this month the baby is almost fully formed
What happens in the 7th month of the pregnancy?
- possible occurrences of contractions
- baby brain is beginning to process sights and sounds
- the baby is about 13 inches long
What happens in the 8th month of pregnancy?
- the baby is fully formed and pulling on weight
- the babus lungs are almost fully developed
What happens in the 9th month of pregnancy?
- common discomforts- braxton hicks contractions, pelvic pressure, difficultly sleeping
What are the two phases in stage 1 of a vaginal birth ?
- initial (latent) phase
- active phase
What occurs in stage 2 of a vaginal birth?
Crowning of the head
What occurs in the third stage of vaginal birth?
- after birth, placenta remains attached to the top of uterus
- later the uterine muscles contract tightly, expelling the placenta
How can drinking alcohol affect pregnancy?
Increases risk of miscarriage, premature brith and low birth weight
What are symptoms/signs of FASD?
Problems associated with:
- learning and behaviour
- joints, bones, muscles and some organs
- managing emotions and developing social skills
- hyperactivity and impulse control
- communication
What are the different types of breech births?
- complete breech
- incomplete breech
- frank breech
What is pre-eclampsia?
A condition affecting pregnancy women during pregnancy after 20 weeks gestation
When is pre-eclampsia more common?
- in first pregnancies
- in those over 35 years old
What are the signs/symptoms of pre-eclampsia?
- new onset of hypertension
- protuenuria can be a marker of kidney damage
(up to 6 weeks after delivery)
What is the condition called where seizures are present within pregnant women/women who have recently delivered?
Eclampsia
