Overview
Clinical Meaning
Pregnancy induces profound and systematic physiological adaptations across every organ system to support fetal growth while maintaining maternal homeostasis.
Pregnancy induces profound and systematic physiological adaptations across every organ system to support fetal growth while maintaining maternal homeostasis. Cardiovascular changes begin by 6 weeks gestation: plasma volume expands 40-50% (peaking at 32 weeks), cardiac output increases 30-50% through both increased heart rate (~15-20 bpm above baseline) and increased stroke volume, and systemic vascular resistance decreases due to progesterone-mediated smooth muscle relaxation and the low-resistance uteroplacental circulation — this produces the characteristic second-trimester blood pressure nadir. The expanded plasma volume exceeds the rise in red blood cell mass (which increases only 20-30%), creating physiological dilutional anemia of pregnancy (hemoglobin normally drops to ~110 g/L). Respiratory changes include increased tidal volume by 30-40% (driven by progesterone stimulating the medullary respiratory center), with unchanged respiratory rate, producing a compensated respiratory alkalosis (PaCO2 ~4.0 kPa, pH ~7.44) that facilitates CO2 transfer from fetal to maternal circulation. The enlarging uterus elevates the diaphragm by ~4 cm but this is compensated by increased chest wall diameter, maintaining vital capacity. Renal changes include 50% increase in GFR and renal plasma flow, resulting in lower serum creatinine...
