Physiology in Pregnancy Flashcards
Give two reasons why pregnant women experience heartburn/reflux.
- relaxin hormone released from the placenta
- raised intrabdominal pressure
Describe the changes to the thyroid gland during pregnancy.
- The thyroid gland enlarges as the body requires more T3 and T4 and therefore more iodine
Name five changes that occur in the breast during pregnancy.
- increased size
- increased vascularity
- increased pigmentation of areola and nipple
- appearance of secondary areola
- production of colostrum-like fluid
Name six cardiovascular factors which are increased in pregnancy.
- blood volume
- heart rate
- stroke volume
- cardiac output
- iron requirement
- white cell count
True or False?
Haemoglobin is unchanged in pregnancy.
False
- haemoglobin is reduced due to dilution
Are platelets increased, decreased or the same in pregnancy?
- decreased
Name two respiratory factors that decrease in pregnancy.
- functional residual capacity
- PCO2
Name three respiratory factors that increase in pregnancy.
- oxygen demand
- respiratory rate
- tidal volume
Give two reasons why there is dramatic dilation of the urinary collecting system during pregnancy.
- increased demand
- increased progesterone
On which side is the dilation of the urinary collecting system more pronounced?
- the right
Why might physiological gylcosuria be present during pregnancy?
- pregnancy is a naturally insulin-resistant state
Why are UTI’s common in pregnant women?
- increased stasis of urine
Is CRP reduced, raised or the same in pregnancy?
- the same
Is ESR reduced, raised or the same in pregnancy?
- raised
Is urea reduced, raised or the same in pregnancy?
- reduced
