GI Tract

Question 1

Changes in pregnancy specific to sense of smell and taste

Answer 1

Inflammation and hypersecretion of the nasal mucosa may alter sense of smell and therefore taste

Question 2

Changes in appetite

Answer 2

Progesterone is an appetite stimulant

Question 3

Define pica

Answer 3

Craving Of non-food substances

Question 4

Cravings

Answer 4

Cravings and aversion certain to foods

Question 5

Changes to saliva

Answer 5

Pytalism gravidarum, excess salivation, saliva may taste bitter causing nausea and vomiting

Question 6

Gums

Answer 6

Oestrogen causes to gums to become spongy and bleed easily

Question 7

Changes to stomach during pregnancy

Answer 7

Progesterone reduces gastric muscle tone and motility so food is more likely to be left in stomach longer as gastric emptying is delayed
Also gastric aspiration where acid comes back up and leaks into lung so given antacid before surgery

Question 8

Changes in small intestine

Answer 8

Calcium and iron absorption increases progesterone reduces motility and muscle tone
So transit time is increased

Question 9

Changes in large intestine

Answer 9

Progesterone relaxes smooth muscle, which slows peristalsis and can cause constipationas more water absorbed from stool so dryer and so harder for stool to move

Question 10

Changes in rectum in pregnancy

Answer 10

In labour, thefetal head may press the rectum stimulating the urgeto defecate

Question 11

Changes in anal in pregnancy

Answer 11

Damage to the sphincter or its nerve supply occur in childbirth = obstetric anal sphincter (OASI/ 3rd or 4th degree tear) resulting in incontinences of faeces