Maternal Physiological Adaptations to Pregnancy.

Human pregnancy is associated with a range of maternal cardiovascular, endocrine and respiratory adaptations that facilitate not only fetal growth and development, but also maternal well-being during a time of increased nutritional and metabolic demand. Late in pregnancy, additional changes occur in preparation for parturition, a process that includes the mechanical challenge of labor and the risk of potentially significant blood loss. We first review the major systemic cardiovascular changes associated with pregnancy (cardiac output, peripheral resistance, blood pressure, plasma volume, and composition of the blood), and then use the kidneys and uterus as examples of organs that undergo significant regional adaptation. The third section highlights changes in the maternal respiratory system that are coordinated with vascular adaptations to assure adequate fetal oxygenation and nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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