physiological changes during pregnancy

The changes occures in mother's body are due to effect of specific hormones.
these changes happen to prepare mother's body labor, prepare her to nurture fetus and develops her breasts for the production of milk.
changes occure in body are as follows:-

1. changes in reproductive system 

• the body of uterus

     after conception the uterus grow to provide nutritive and protective environment to fetus in which fetus will develop and grow.

- height and weight(hyperplesia)

 height increases from 7.5 to 35cm.

 weight increase from 50g to 1000g(at term)

- by 12th week of pregnancy, uterus rises out of pelvis and become upright.          

- by 20th week of pregnancy, the uterus become spherical in shape and has a thicker, ore rounded fundus.

- the uterus reaches the level of the xiphisternum by38th week.

- the hypertrophy(increase in size) and hyperplesia(increase in number) of uterine muscle due to effect of estrogen and progesterone.

- decidua: endomatrium layer of uterus during pregnancy is called decidua.

• cervix

- the cervix remains tightly closed to provide protection to fetus, it act as barrier against infection during pregnancy.

- mucus plug(operculum) cervical mucus closing the cervical canal to protect from infection.

• vagina

-incresed vascularity and become soft, bluish, and moist.

- more acidic  environment- distension of vagina a birth.

• pelvic ligaments

- relaxation of ligaments

-pelvic become more mobile and increase in capacity

2. Breast changes

- increase in size and sensitiveness.

- increased pigmentation of nipple and areola.

-montgomery tubercule appear(dialated sebaceous glands)

- secondary nipples(less pigmented area around primary areola)

- colostrum like fluid is expressed at the end of 3rd month.

3. skin changes

- pigmentation due to increased melanocyte stimulatng hormone

-linea nigra: a narrow line of dark skin pigmentation apperas in midline of abdomen  from symphysis to umblicus.

- chloasma or mask of pregnancy: butterfly pigmentation of face in 50 to 70% of women.

- striae gravidarum: stretch of abdominal wall, pink lines in flanks

- increased hair growth on face , scalp and body.

- increase in body temperature 0.5०c 

4. weight changes

- increase in weight during pregnancy 

• 4kg in first 20 weeks
• 8.3 kg in second 20 weeks
• 12.5 kg total approximate
• or we can also count as

               →1st trimester 1kg

               →2nd and 3rd trimester 5-5 kg increase in weight

- the average weight gain in multigravida is 1kg less then primigravida.

5. changes in cardiovascular system

• heart

-increase in heart rate by 10 to 15 bpm

-stroke volume rises

- left ventricular hypertrophy

-cardiac output increases

• blood volume and pressure

- increase in blood volume

- increase in plasma volume 

- plasma protein level reduce durin first 20 week due to high level of plasma volume

- plasma fibrinogen increases from 3rd motnh of pregnancy

- the neutrophils increase in pregnancy

- immune response is reduced in pregnancy

• coagulation

- factors 7,8 and 10 rises

- absolute plasma fibrinogen doubles

-erythrocyte sedimentation rate increases

6. changes in respiratory system

- tidal volume rises by 30% in early pregnancy & 40 to 50% by term.

- fall in expiratory reserve and residual volume

- dyspnea in late pregnancy due to elevated diaphragm.

- shortness of breath

- lowering of blood pco2

- respiratory alkelosis

7.changes in gastrointestinal system

- increased salivation (ptyalism)

-change in sense of taste, it can be metalic taste in mouth.

- increase appetite and thirst ⇢⇢⇢⇢frequent small snacks

- nausea and vomiting around 4 to 8weeks

- emesis gravidarum, morning sickness(50% women)

-decreased gastric acidity 

-increased thirst

- constipation due to reduced gut motility

• liver

- fall in serum albumin level

- gall bladder increase in size and empties more slowly during pregnancy

- fibrinogen levels are increased by 50%

- serum alkaline phosphatase levels rise progressively 

8. changes in endocrine system

• pitutary

-anterior pitutary increase in size and activity

- posterior pitutary release oxytocin on the onset of labor 

• thyroid

- increase in size and activity(13%)

-most pregnant women are euthyroid

- total T3,T4 are increased

- basal metabolic rate increase

• adrenal

- produce increase level of total cortisol and other corticosteroid

• placental hormones

- placenta produce several hormones

           *progesterone : produced by corpus luteum

              level rises steadily during pregnancy

              action on - colon activity reduced , nausea, vomitting, reduced uterine tone, raises temperature, diastolic bp reduce.

     *oestrogens: ovary in early pregnancy

          oestriol produced by placenta

       actions on - induce growth of uterus, cause water retention, reduce sodium excretion, development of breast.

9. metabolic changes

- increase in food intake during pregnancy

- increase in metabolism due to needs of growing fetus.

- BMR increased tp extant of 30% higher 

- plasma albumin concentration is reduced due to increased plasma volume.

in my article i explained changes occuring during pregnancy. these changs happn in mother's body to copup with growing fetus and to provide appropriate environment and nutrition to fetus. 

i hope you liked our physiological changes during pregnancy.

                 

      Himanshu p.

click for more on pregnancy: https://apexnurse.blogspot.com/2019/07/gestational-diabetes-symptoms-diagnosis.html