Least likely to be seen in a normal pregnancy is-
Ans. is 'd' i.e., Decrease in systolic pressure * To meet the increased metabolic demands of the mother and fetus there are certain changes in the cardiovascular system during pregnancy.* Blood volume increases from 6 to 8 weeks gestation and reaches a maximum at approximately 30 weeks. There will be no evidence of circulatory overload in the healthy pregnant woman and most of the added volume of blood is accounted for by an increased capacity of the uterine, breast, renal, striated muscle, and cutaneous vascular systems. Plasma volume increases by 40-50%, and this is relatively greater than the increase in that of red cell mass (20-30%), resulting in hemodilution and a decrease in hemoglobin concentration.* The increased blood volume facilitates maternal and fetal exchanges of respiratory gases, nutrients, etc and it also reduces the impact of maternal blood loss during delivery.* Cardiac output is 40% higher than that in the non-pregnant state. This is primarily, due to an increase in stroke volume (35%) and, to a lesser extent, to a more rapid heart rate (15%). The systemic vascular resistance (SVR) decreases which contributes toward the hyperdynamic circulation observed in pregnancy.* Blood pressure (BP): In spite of increased cardiac output, the BP remains almost within normal values. Systemic arterial pressure is never increased during normal gestation. In fact, by midpregnancy, a slight decrease in diastolic pressure can be recognized.
Increase in blood volume
Increase in cardiac output
Increase in heart rate
Decrease in systolic pressure
Physiological changes during Pregnancy