Week 4

Question 1

special nutritional needs in pregnancy

Answer 1

• folic acid
• vit D
• high protein diet, higher energy uptake
• iron supplements may be required (because more risk of anaemia)
• B vitamins - erythropoesis

Question 2

what tissues is the placenta derived from?

Answer 2

trophoblast and decidual tissue

Question 3

at what week of pregnancy is the placenta (and fetal heart) functional by?

Answer 3

week 5

Question 4

placental development

Answer 4

Trophoblast cells (chorion) differentiate into multinucleate cells (syncytiotrophoblasts) which invade decidua and break down capillaries to form cavities filled with maternal blood

Developing embryo sends capillaries into the syncytiotrophoblast projections to form “placental villi”

Each villus contains fetal capillaries separated from maternal blood by a thin layer of tissue – no direct contact between fetal & maternal blood

Question 5

HCG role in placental development

Answer 5

signals the corpus luteum to continue secreting progesterone

Question 6

does oestrogen:progesterone ratio increase or decrease at parturition?

Answer 6

increases

Question 7

oestrogen and progesterone effect on contractility

Answer 7

Progesterone inhibits contractility while estrogen increases contractility.

Question 8

oxytocin role in parturition

Answer 8

increases contractions and excitability
(synthetic used in inductions!)

Question 9

the stages of labour

Answer 9

1. cervical dilation (8-24h
2. passage of the fetus through birth canal
   (few min to 120 mins)
3. expulsion of placenta

Question 10

eostrogen and progesterone effect on milk production

Answer 10

inhibit

Question 11

prolactin and oxytocin respective roles in lactation

Answer 11

production - prolactin

release from breast - oxytocin

Question 12

is obesity a risk factor for pre-eclampsia?

Answer 12

yes