Pregnancy: Stages and Changes.


 

Understanding about pregnancy

Pregnancy is the period during the development of the baby in the womb up to the birth.

 It mostly lasts from when a sperm fertilizes an egg up to 40 weeks of gestation or 9months.

Pregnancy is divided into 3trimester:


First trimester is between 1-12 weeks.

The first trimester the corpus luteum in the ovary produces the most estrogen and progesterone that supports the embryo and cause the development of the placenta.

Fertilization and implantation occur.

Developing of organs begin.

Nausea.

Fatigue.

Breast tenderness.

Mood swings.

During this stage the risk of miscarriage is higher.

 

Second trimester is between 13-26 weeks.

The corpus luteum degenerates and placenta takes over as the primary hormone producer as a new major endocrine organ in the pregnancy.

Placenta starts secreting estrogen that will have some affects both the mother and fetus.

Placenta keeps pumping the estrogen until labor.

Why placenta secreting all that estrogen?

1: It is important for growing of fetus organs.

2: It helps maternal tissue growth (mammary gland, uterus enlargement).

3: It suppresses FSH and LH release from anterior pituitary gland by negative feedback because we can’t afford having ovulation happen during the pregnancy. If FSH and LH are floating around the blood it will start developing egg and follicles in the ovary.

 Baby develops sense and growths.

Fetal movements begin around 18-22 week.

Back pain.

Skin changes.

 

 Third trimester is between 27-40 weeks.

Baby gains most of its weights.

Preparation of labor and delivery.

 

Physiological changes in different organs.

Whole the mother’s body works together to support the pregnancy.

So here some changes that occur in the pregnancy:

 

Cardiovascular system:

1: Anatomical changes

 Some anatomical change occurs which the growing uterus pushes the heart to the left a little.

2. Heart

A. The body needs more blood to carry oxygen and nutrient to the fetus.

B. The heart beats more quickly 10-15 beats per minute more than usual.

C. The blood volume increases 40-50% throughout the pregnancy.

D. The stroke volume the blood pumped out with each heart beat increases which means the cardiac output will increase.

3. Blood pressure

It decreases because of a couple causes:

A. Progesterone: there is a lot of progesterone floating in the blood and it relaxes the smooth muscles which included the blood vessels and that relaxation causes dilation of blood vessels that will lower the blood pressure.

B. Placenta: is a temporary organ that develops in the uterus and produces hormones and transfer oxygen and nutrient from the mother's blood to the fetus.  It produces progesterone which relaxes smooth muscle and cause vasodilation.


Respiratory system:

1. Oxygen consumption increases so it needs to bring more oxygen in the blood that is mostly done by increasing minute ventilation.

2. Progesterone:

  Acts in the central respiratory center in the brain to instruct the lungs to take more air with in each breath that is how the mother end up more air taken during pregnancy.

v       When you have more air inhaled in each breath more carbon dioxide will exhaled. 

       Body responds to the decrease of carbon dioxide because it is not acid to balance the PH of the blood you need to increase secretion of bicarbonate which is base and from kidney.


URINARY SYSTEM:

1: Kidney:

  The rate of filtration of blood will increase due to the increase of blood volume up to       50%.

v        Increased clearance of urea and creatinine.

v        Kidneys and ureters may dilate and increase risk of UTI.

2: Bladder:

   The pregnancy women mostly urinate frequently more than usual due to the growing     fetus or the enlarging of the uterus that puts pressure in the bladder.


GASTROINTESTINAL:

v       Constipation and reflux due to smooth muscle relaxation that slows GI mobility.

       Morning sickness especially first trimester.


ENDOCRINE SYSTEM:

1: Anterior pituitary gland: gets a little bigger and starts to make more thyroid dropping and it effects thyroid gland and increase mom’s metabolic rate (mom’s appetite).

2: progesterone:

v       Relaxes smooth muscle.

v      Helps breast tissue growth and maintain uterine lining.

3: estrogen:

v       Stimulates uterine growth and blood flow.

v         Prepare breast for lactation.

4: prolactin: rises late in pregnancy milk production.

5: Oxytocin:

Stimulates uterine contraction during labor.

Promotes milk ejection.

6: Relaxin:

v       Softens the ligament in the pelvis preparation for delivery.

       It takes a lot of energy to support the gestation.


SKIN CHANGES:

1: the growing uterus stretches the over lying skin in the abdomen when skin stretches too far the connective tissue under the skin tears and causes  striae or stretch marks.


WEIGHT GAIN:

The growing fetus is the biggest portion of weight gain in the pregnancy.

1: fetus about 7-8ibs (pound).

2: placenta and amniotic fluid about 6ibs.

3: Extra breast tissue between 3-4ibs.

4: uterus about 4ibs.

5: Extra blood volume about 4ibs.

6: Adipose tissue gain between 3-10ibs.


PRENATAL CARE

v      Regular checkups (ultrasound and screening).

       Health diet rich in iron, folate, calcium and protein.

v      Avoid alcohol, smoking, certain medications.

v       Moderate exercise, hydration and rest.

         Heart beat is detectable by 6 weeks and above.

v       Gender is often visible via ultrasound by between 18-20 weeks of gestation.

v       Mental health managing anxiety and depression.


Conclusion

Pregnancy is very important stage and the beginning of a new life to bring to this world. It involves physical, emotional and psychological changes and requires proper medical care, emotional support and healthy lifestyle to ensure the well-being of the mother and the baby.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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