Physiological Changes During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a normal phenomenon that occurs in the life of a woman. The body’s physiology undergoes a lot of changes that it should be known by the patient and her doctor. Here are some of the changes that take place in the body during pregnancy. These changes are due to increase in the hormones produced during the pregnancy and latter on. This is because of the growing womb producing mechanical effect on the body. The body responds to the pregnancy’s increased demand of metabolism by increasing the blood volume. A normal adult has 5 liters of blood and the volume increases to 7 liters in the pregnant woman. Her heart rate increases slightly and her blood pressure decreases due to the hormones in the first two trimesters. The breathing rate increases slightly in pregnant woman because of the increase in oxygen demand. Appetite increases in pregnancy and there may be cravings for specific food. Although some woman develops aversion for certain food during pregnancy and some have severe vomiting during the early pregnancy. The daily energy requirement increases by about 300 calories. Pregnant woman may require around 2500 calories per day. A pregnant woman may have an overall increase of weight equivalent to 11 to 16 Kg during her entire duration of pregnancy. She may develop stretch marks on the skin of her belly; she may also develop dark patches over her face. Her joints become lax and loose due to the effects of pregnancy hormones which may produce aches and pains in the body. She may be more prone for sprains and muscle spasm due to the laxity of the joints.