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Cardiovascular Changes in pregnancy
Cardiovascular Changes in pregnancy ( 4 Questions)
A nurse is reviewing the cardiovascular changes in pregnancy with a group of nursing students.
Which of the following statements by a student indicates a need for further teaching?
Cardiac output increases by 30% to 50% during pregnancy to meet the increased metabolic demands of the mother and fetus.
The blood pressure decreases by 10 mmHg during pregnancy due to systemic vasodilation. It returns to pre-pregnancy levels postpartum.
The hemoglobin concentration decreases by 15% to 20% during pregnancy due to the increase in plasma volume. This is known as physiological anemia of pregnancy.
Venous pressure increases during pregnancy due to increased blood volume and compression of the inferior vena cava by the gravid uterus. This can lead to lower extremity edema and varicose veins.
The hemoglobin concentration decreases by 15% to 25% during pregnancy due to hemodilution.
This is known as physiological anemia of pregnancy.
Choice A is wrong because the cardiac output increases by 30% to 50% during pregnancy to meet the increased metabolic demands of the mother and fetus.
Choice B is wrong because the blood pressure decreases by 10 mmHg during pregnancy due to systemic vasodilation.
It returns to pre-pregnancy levels postpartum.
Choice D is wrong because the venous pressure increases during pregnancy due to increased blood volume and compression of the inferior vena cava by the gravid uterus.
This can lead to lower extremity edema and varicose veins.
Answer and explanation..
The correct answer is choice C. The hemoglobin concentration decreases by 15% to 20% during pregnancy due to the increase in plasma volume. This is known as physiological anemia of pregnancy.
Choice A is wrong because the cardiac output increases by 30% to 50% during pregnancy to meet the increased metabolic demands of the mother and fetus.
Choice B is wrong because the blood pressure decreases by 10 mmHg during pregnancy due to the decrease in systemic vascular resistance. It gradually returns to pre-pregnancy levels by term.
Choice D is wrong because the venous pressure increases during pregnancy due to the compression of the inferior vena cava by the gravid uterus. This can lead to lower extremity edema and varicose veins.