Cardiovascular Changes in Pregnancy

Question 1

What are the changes to cardiac output during pregnancy?

Answer 1

Cardiac output increases by 40-50%
Increase in heart rate (up to 15%)
Increase in stroke volume (20%)
Increase in blood volume by 40-50%

Question 2

What are the changes to blood pressure in pregnancy?

Answer 2

Decrease in blood pressure

Decrease in systemic vascular resistance (20%)

Question 3

What are the normal cardiovascular examination findings during pregnancy?

Answer 3

Bounding pulse
Sinus tachycardia
Ejection systolic murmur

Question 4

What are the normal ECG changes during pregnancy?

Answer 4

Sinus tachycardia
Left axis deviation
Q wave and inverted T in lead 3

Question 5

During pregnancy, physiological Q waves can occur in which ECG leads?

Answer 5

Lead 3 and avF