Submitted by:mansi. Pregnancy • Pregnancy is the term used to describe the period i n which a fetus develops inside a woman's womb o r uterus. Pregnancy usually lasts about 40 weeks, or just over 9 months, as measured from the last mens trual period to delivery. Effects of pregnancy on di fferent systems • Gastrointestinal system. • Cardiovascular system. • Respiratory system. • Musculoskeletal system. • Thermoregulatory system. Gastrointestinal system • Peristalsis movements may r educe and lady may show na usea and vomiting. therefore , lady is advised to stop eatin g heavy meals at one time ra ther prefer short frequent lig ht meals. Cardiovascular systems • The characteristic change is seen in pl asma levels, where they shoot up in c omparison with red blood cells leadin g to “physiological anemia”. This is al so known as pregnancy anemia. • Due raised plasma volumes which are in response to hormonal changes, in order to meet high oxygen demands. • There is increase in heart size, heart r ate and cardiac output. • Heart rate increases 10-20beats/min and so, there is an increase in cardiac output of 30-60%. • The uterine size and venous distensibility causes i ncreased venous pressure in lower limbs. • The blood pressure changes are variable during the three trimesters.it is at low levels in first trimester, l owest in second trimester, and then there is gradua l rise in third trimester, till six weeks post-delivery. • The blood pressure swings between pushings and c ontractions during labour. Respiratory system • There is rise in anteroposterior and transverse diameter of chest by 2c m. • As the ribs flare up and out due to hormone stimulation, diaphragm g ets elevated by 4cm. • Respiratory rate does not change much but, definitely there is an inc rease in depth of respiration. • Tidal volume increases, with not so much marked changes in total lung capacity. • To meet the high o2 demands duri ng pregnancy, the lady is usually in a state of hyperventilation. Thermoregulatory system • Hike in the BMR and hea t production during preg nancy. • A load of 300kilocalories /day becomes the requi site to meet the high bo dy demands. • During labour the lady f eels very hot and profus e sweating, due to stron g muscle activity with pr oduction of heat. Musculoskeletal system • The constant growing weight of fo etus and hormonal changes affect s the ligaments and muscles leadi ng to their increased laxity and joi nt hypermobility.
• By the last trimester of pregnanc
y, abdominal muscles are stretche d to the maximum point of its ela stic limit. • The constant growing of foetus an d hormonal changes affect the lig aments and muscles leading to th eir increased laxity and joint hype rmobility. Reference • Book:physiotherapy in pregnancy • https://www.istockphoto.com/photos/human-diges tive-system • https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/pregnanc y/conditioninfo