Cardiovascular Changes in pregnancy
Cardiovascular Changes in pregnancy ( 4 Questions)
A nurse is caring for a client who is at her first prenatal visit and reports that she has been experiencing episodes of hypotension since becoming pregnant.
Which of the following responses by the nurse is appropriate?
This is due to an increase in blood volume caused by pregnancy. According to Healthline, pregnancy causes many changes in a woman’s body, including expanding blood vessels to let blood flow to the uterus. This can lower the blood pressure, especially in the first and second trimester of pregnancy.
Increase in cardiac output would raise the blood pressure, not lower it. Cardiac output is the amount of blood pumped by the heart per minute.
Increase in body weight would also raise the blood pressure, not lower it. Body weight affects the amount of resistance in the blood vessels.
Increase in pressure on the diaphragm would not affect the blood pressure directly. The diaphragm is a muscle that helps with breathing, not with circulation.
This is due to an increase in blood volume caused by pregnancy. According to Healthline, pregnancy causes many changes in a woman’s body, including expanding blood vessels to let blood flow to the uterus.
This can lower the blood pressure, especially in the first and second trimester of pregnancy.
Choice B is wrong because an increase in cardiac output would raise the blood pressure, not lower it.
Cardiac output is the amount of blood pumped by the heart per minute.
Choice C is wrong because an increase in body weight would also raise the blood pressure, not lower it.
Body weight affects the amount of resistance in the blood vessels.
Choice D is wrong because an increase in pressure on the diaphragm would not affect the blood pressure directly.
The diaphragm is a muscle that helps with breathing, not with circulation.
Normal blood pressure levels during pregnancy are less than 120/80 mmHg. Low blood pressure is usually diagnosed when the reading is around 90/60 mmHg or lower. Low blood pressure during pregnancy does not usually cause significant health issues, but it can cause symptoms such as dizziness, fainting, nausea, or fatigue. In some cases, very low blood pressure can be dangerous for the mother and the baby.
Therefore, it is important for pregnant women to have regular check-ups with their doctor and report any symptoms of low blood pressure.