1. Diagnosis of pregnancy
First trimester (first 12 weeks)
Symptoms
1. Amenorrhea
2. Morning sickness – more often in the first pregnancy than in the subsequent one. It usually appears soon following the missed period and rarely lasts beyond the 3rd month
Breast discomfort
Frequency of micturition
Constipation
Enlargement of abdomen
Fatigue

2. Diagnosis of pregnancy (contd…)
Signs
Breast: Engorgement of breast with dilatation of superficial veins
Areola more pigmented
Montgomery’s tubercles are prominent
Secretion as early as 8th week
Per abdomen – uterus remains a pelvic organ until at 12th week
Pelvic changes
Chadwick’s sign – It is the dusky blue of anterior vaginal wall visible at about 8th week of pregnancy. The discoloration is due to local vascularity.
Uterine signs – the pregnant uterus feels soft and elastic
Hegar’s sign – 6-10 weeks

3. Diagnosis of pregnancy (contd…)
Immunological test
Depends on agglutination reaction of the antigen (b-HCG)
Sonography
Gestational ring
Cardiac motion uniformly by 7th week
Second trimester (13-28 weeks)
Quickening
Progressive enlargement of the lower abdomen
General examination
Chloasma

4. Diagnosis of pregnancy (contd…)
Abdominal examination
Inspection
Fundal height
Palpation
The uterus feels soft and elastic
Braxton-Hicks contractions
Palpation of fetal parts
Active fetal movements
Auscultation
Last trimester (29-40 weeks)
Enlargement of the abdomen
Fetal movement
Braxton-Hicks
Fetal movements

5. Physiological changes during pregnancy
Vulva
Superficial varicosities may appear
Labia minora are pigmented and hypertrophied
Vagina
Increased blood supply of the venous plexus surrounding the walls give the bluish coloration of the mucosa (Jacquemier’s sign)
Secretion
The secretion becomes copious
pH becomes acidic (3.5-6)
Uterus
The uterus which is non-pregnant state weighs about 50mg and measures about 7.5 cm in length, at term weighs 1000 gms and measures 35 cm in length. Hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the cells.

6. Physiological changes during pregnancy (contd…)
Cutaneous changes
Face
Chloasma gravidarum or pregnancy mask, extreme form of pigmentation around the cheek, forehead and around the eyes. It may be patchy or diffuse, disappears spontaneously after delivery
Abdomen
Linea nigra – brownish black pigmented area in the midline stretching from the xiphisternum to the symphysis pubis
Striae gravidarum – represent the tissue in the deeper layer of the cutis, mechanical stretching
Weight gain
The total weight gain during the course of a singleton pregnancy in average is 10kgs.

7. Cardiovascular changes (1)
Position and size of heart
ECG changes
Increased heart rate (+15%)
15-degrees left axis deviation
Inverted T-waves in lead III
Q in lead III and AVF
Unspecific ST changes
Appears larger on X-ray
As the uterus enlarges and the diaphragm becomes elevated, the heart is displaced upward and somewhat to the left with rotation on its long axis, so that the apex beat is moved laterally to the left.
With the anatomical changes in the heart, there may also be alterations in heart rhythm and electrocardiographic finding, and non pathologic murmurs may occur. ECG changes are probably due to the change in position of the heart and may include a degree shift to the left in the electrical axis. There may be reversible ST, T and Q waves changes.
In order to detect pathologic changes in the ECG, one has to know about physiologic changes during pregnancy. Diaphragmatic elevation causes leftward deviation of the heart. The result is a 15 degree left axis deviation. Q wave may be present in leads III and AVF. Inverted T waves may be seen in lead III. Unspecific ST changes may occur. Caused by the leftward deviation, the heart may appear enlarged in the chest roentgenogram.

8. Cardiovascular changes (2)
Murmurs: soft , transient
Inferior vena cava syndrome:
In the supine position, the inferior vena cava is compressed by the enlarged uterus, resulting in decreased cardiac output. Some women may have symptoms that include dizziness, light-headedness, and syncope.
The first heart sound may be split, with increased loudness of both portions. As many as 90% gravid women may have a late systolic or ejection murmur attributable to the increase in the stroke volume and the decrease in blood viscosity. The murmur disappear soon after birth.
Caution is needed in interpreting murmurs during pregnancy, particularly systolic murmurs, because such physiologic alterations do not necessarily indicate heart disease and must be differentiated from pathologic changes.
During pregnancy, cardiac output is very sensitive to positional alterations. In the supine position, the inferior vena cava is compressed by the enlarged uterus, resulting in decreased cardiac output. Although most women do not become overtly hypotensive when lying supine, some may have symptoms that include dizziness, light-headedness, and syncope. This is termed the inferior vena cava syndrome.

9. Cardiovascular changes (3)
Stroke volume %
Heart rate %
Cardiac output %
Oxygen consumption %
SVR (systemic vascular resistance) -5%
Systolic BP mmHg
Diastolic BP mmHg
Mean BP mmHg
Increases in stoke volume and heart rate are responsible for the changes in cardiac output. Increased metabolic demands of mother and fetus are the cause for this rise in cardiac output. The resting oxygen consumption of the parturient increases approximately 20% compared to non-pregnant levels. Increased hormonal levels, estrogen and prostaglandins cause a vasodilatation and therefore a decrease in systemic vascular resistance and pulmonary vascular resistance. Decreased peripheral resistance causes a small decrease in systolic blood pressure and a more marked decrease in diastolic blood pressure.

10. Cardiovascular changes (4)
Blood volume %
Plasma volume %
Red blood cell volume %
Maternal blood volume increases during pregnancy, reaching a maximum of 30% at approximately weeks of gestation. Plasma volume increases from ml/kg which represents a rise of 40%. The different rate of increase in blood and plasma volume accounts for the relative anemia of pregnancy. The dilutional anemia of the parturient decreases the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood. Several mechanism compensate for this disadvantage: increased cardiac output, decreased blood viscosity, vasodilatation and right shift of the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve provide increased flow and better oxygen extraction in the tissue.
Cardiac out put begins a progressive rise in the first trimester and peaks by weeks of gestation. The rise represents the increased metabolic demands of the mother and fetus as pregnacy progresses.

11. Cardiovascular changes(5)
Venous pressure:
unchanged in the upper body
Significantly increases in the lower extremities, esp. during supine, sitting or standing position, returns to near normal in lateral recumbent position
The compression of the inferior vena cava by the uterus and the pressure of the fetal presenting part on the common iliac veins can result in decreased blood return to the heart. This decreases cardiac output, leads to a fall in blood pressure, and causes edema in the lower extremities.

12. Hematologic system (1) Blood volume (polymorphonuclear) +40%
Dilutional anemia Hb 110 g/L
Leukocytosis ,000/ml
Platelet no change
Sedimentation rate increase, 100m/h
Hypovolemia begins in the first trimester, increases rapidly in the second trimester and plateaus at about the 30th week.
The total blood leukocyte count increases during normal pregnancy from a prepregnancy level of /ul to /ul in the last trimester. The cause of the rise in the leukocyte count , which primarily involves the polymorphonuclear , has not been established, although it seems likely to be caused by increased demargination of white cells. the increase starts from 7-8 weeks of gestation and peaked at 30 weeks.
Some studies have reported an apparent increase in the production of platelets (thrombocytopoiesis) during pregnancy that is accompanied by progressive platelet consumption.

13. Hematologic system (2)
Clotting factors: hypercoagulable, throboembolism
Fibrinogen (factor I) % (4.5 vs 3 g/L)
Factor VIII increase
Factors VII, IX, X and XII increase
Prothrombin time, PT shortened
ATPP activated partial thromoplastin time shortened
Fibrinolytic activity decrease
Pregnancy is considered a hypercoagulable state with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism both during pregnancy and the puerperium. The fibrinolytic activity is depressed. The risk of thromboembolism is approximately 2 times normal during pregnancy and increases to 5.5 times normal during the puerperium. Understanding these physiologic changes is necessary to manage two of the more serious problems of pregnancy, hemorrhage and thromoembolic disorder, both caused by disorders in the mechanism of hemostasis.

14. Hematologic system (3) Iron : active transplacental transfer
Requirement mg
increase maternal red cell mass mg
fetal development mg
compensate for normal iron loss mg

15. Physiological changes during pregnancy (contd…)
Leucocytes
Neutrophilic leucocytosis occurs to the extent of ,000/cu.mm and even to 20,000/cu.mm
Total proteins
Supine hypotension syndrome (postural hypotension)
Carbohydrate metabolism
Glycosuria – lowered renal threshold, increased glomerular filtration rate.

16. Physiological changes during pregnancy (contd…)
Systemic changes
Change
Respiration rate/min
Unaffected
Vital capacity (ml)
Almost unaffected
Tidal volume (ml)
+40%
Residual volume (ml)
-20%
Nervous system
May be generalized neuritis probably due to vitamin B1 deficiency
Compression of the lumbosacral trunk by the fetal head or by features of sciatica
Compression of the median nerve (Carpal tunnel syndrome)

17. Hemodynamic changes during pregnancy
Decreased peripheral vascular resistance
Decreased pulmonary vascular resistance
Decreased colloid oncotic pressure
Increased cardiac output
Increased pulse rate

18. Changes in the kidneys and the urinary system
Anatomical changes
Dilatation of the collecting system
The renal calices, the renal pelvis and the ureters starts to dilate and remain enlarged for several weeks after delivery
Causes
Progesterone
Compression of the ureter
Physiological changes
The most important consequence of the increased RPF is a 50% increase in the GFR
The serum creatinine and urea nitrogen concentration below lower than in the non-pregnant situation

19. Endocrinology in relation to reproduction
Hormones of placenta
Protein hormones
Human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG)
Human placenta lactogen (HPL)
Human chorionic thyrotrophin (HCT)
Human chorionic corticotrophin (HCC)
Pregnancy specific b-1 glycoprotein (PS b G)
Steroid hormones
Estrogens – estriol, estradiol and estrone
Progesterone

20. Endocrinology in relation to reproduction (contd…)
Estrogen and progesterone
100 folds increase in progesterone concentration
Estrogen levels are also very high
The level of SHBG increases
Adrenal cortical hormones
Increased level of plasma cortisol
There is increase in adrenal androgens – helps in protein anabolism
Increase in aldosterone secretion

21. Endocrinology in relation to reproduction (contd…)
Thyroid gland
Moderate enlargement with hyperplasia
Increased secretion of thyroid hormones
Parathyroid gland
Enlarged with increase secretion of parathyroid hormone to facilitate mobilization of ionic calcium and phosphorus for fetal bone development
Calcitonin level slightly increased just to counter the effect of PTH on maternal skeleton
Pancreas
Hypertrophy and hyperplasia of beta cells of Langerhans
Pregnancy has diabetogenic effect

22. Endocrinology in relation to reproduction (contd…)
Diabetogenic effects of pregnancy
Insulin resistance
Production of placental somatomammotropin
Increased production of cortisol, estriol, and progesterone
Increased insulin destruction by kidney and placenta

23. Endocrinology in relation to reproduction (contd…)
Human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG)
Functions
Secretion of progesterone by the corpus luteum of pregnancy
HCG stimulates Leydig cells of the male fetus to produce testosterone in conjunction with fetal pituitary gonadotropins. It is thus indirectly involved in the development of male external genitalia
It has got immuno-suppressive activity which may inhibit the maternal processes of immunorejection of the fetus as a homograft

24. Endocrinology in relation to reproduction (contd…)
Steroidal hormones
Functions
Estrogen causes hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the uterine myometrium, thereby increasing the accommodation capacity, vascularity and blood flow of the uterus.
Progesterone in conjunction with estrogen stimulates growth of the uterus
Development and hypertrophy of the breasts. Hypertrophy and proliferation of the ducts are due to estrogen
Both the steroids are required for the adaptation of the maternal organs to the constantly increasing demands of the growing fetus
The steroids are involved in the complex pathway in initiation of normal labor

25. Metabolic changes Carbohydrate metabolism Lipid metabolism
Fetus drives its energy almost totally from glucose, passed through placenta by facilitated diffusion
Lipid metabolism
Increased mobilization of lipids from maternal adipose tissue to raise plasma FFA level
HPL has glucose sparing effect by mobilizing free fatty acids for mothers skeletal and cardiac muscles and diverting the glucose to placenta and fetus

26. Metabolic changes (contd…)
Salt and water metabolism
Marked water retention is found in pregnancy with the decrease in plasma osmolarity
Edema of legs seen because of increased venous pressure due to compression by gravid uterus
Increase in blood volume causes decreased oncotic pressure causes leakage of water in the tissue bed.
The reduction in serum, sodium is caused by increased GFR. However, sodium and fluid balance is maintained by increase in plasma aldosterone and increase level of estrogen and deoxycorticosterone prevents sodium loss