Physiological Changes During Pregnancy

Abstract

Pregnancy is a normal maternal physiological state that is developed to accommodate and nurture the fetus and enable the mother during labor. Pregnancy engenders multiple systemic changes—whether it be hormonal, mechanical, or circulatory. The gravid uterus and the increase in progesterone and estrogen levels attributes to the multisystemic changes. The increase in peptide hormones alters connective tissue characteristics, leading to structural changes to the kidneys, ureters, rib cage, diaphragm, and abdominal compartments. Cardiac output, pulmonary blood flow, and circulating blood volume are all increased in response to rising metabolic demands. There are additional significant changes in many biochemical laboratory results in comparison to the nonpregnant women. Awareness of those changes will not only enable clinicians to navigate normal pregnancy but also to identify critical pathological values that assist in further management.

Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics of Pregnant Women Seeking Antenatal Care in Beni-Suef Governorate

“…Somewhere between 16 weeks and 20 weeks, the pregnant woman may feel her baby's first fluttering movements [2].…”

“…During this period, the fetus body structure and organ systems develop. Most miscarriages and birth defects occur during this period [2].…”