Maternal Adaptation to
Pregnancy
pregnancy is also known as gestation
this is the time during which the female carries an offspring
in utero
the duration varies in animals. for humans it is 40 weeks
Pregnancy induced changes
the body changes to accomodate the needs of the growing
fetus
the physical aspects of pregnancy occur within a variable
time frame and are sometimes uncomfortable
every women reacts uniquely to the myriad of changes that
occur
pregnancy affects all organ systems. this means that women may
have differents igns and symptoms that they may experience
changes can mimic other pathological diseases
changes can worsen pre existing organ diseases. eg. sickle
cell disease, cardiac disease
these women are at high risk of mortality and so these
women are advised not to get pregnant
must be able to identify physiological vs pathological changes
to see if some changes need further investigation
Maternal Adaptation to Pregnancy 1
, Weight gain in pregnancy
breasts hypertrophy
uterus hypertrophies to accomodate growing fetus
fat starts to be use as energy rather than the glucose that
they usually metabolize from the meals
average size of fetus is 2.5 to 3.5 kg
Maternal Adaptation to Pregnancy 2
, average weight gain throughout pregnancy and they would ask
what is the normal weight gain for a person with a normal BMI.
11 to 16
Endocrine
hormonal changes play a major role
placenta
a unique kind of endocrine gland
able to form protein and steroid hormones and this starts
very early in pregnancy
produces HcG, human placental lactogen, relaxin,
progesterone and oestrogen
HCG
responsible for maintaining maternal corpus luteum which
secretes progesterone and oestrogensm with synthesis
occuring before implantation
Maternal Adaptation to Pregnancy 3
Pregnancy
pregnancy is also known as gestation
this is the time during which the female carries an offspring
in utero
the duration varies in animals. for humans it is 40 weeks
Pregnancy induced changes
the body changes to accomodate the needs of the growing
fetus
the physical aspects of pregnancy occur within a variable
time frame and are sometimes uncomfortable
every women reacts uniquely to the myriad of changes that
occur
pregnancy affects all organ systems. this means that women may
have differents igns and symptoms that they may experience
changes can mimic other pathological diseases
changes can worsen pre existing organ diseases. eg. sickle
cell disease, cardiac disease
these women are at high risk of mortality and so these
women are advised not to get pregnant
must be able to identify physiological vs pathological changes
to see if some changes need further investigation
Maternal Adaptation to Pregnancy 1
, Weight gain in pregnancy
breasts hypertrophy
uterus hypertrophies to accomodate growing fetus
fat starts to be use as energy rather than the glucose that
they usually metabolize from the meals
average size of fetus is 2.5 to 3.5 kg
Maternal Adaptation to Pregnancy 2
, average weight gain throughout pregnancy and they would ask
what is the normal weight gain for a person with a normal BMI.
11 to 16
Endocrine
hormonal changes play a major role
placenta
a unique kind of endocrine gland
able to form protein and steroid hormones and this starts
very early in pregnancy
produces HcG, human placental lactogen, relaxin,
progesterone and oestrogen
HCG
responsible for maintaining maternal corpus luteum which
secretes progesterone and oestrogensm with synthesis
occuring before implantation
Maternal Adaptation to Pregnancy 3
