QuestionSBA
QuestionChoice
This answer is incorrect. Systemic vascular resistance decreases by around 50% during pregnancy which contributes to the lowering of blood pressure.
10007462
b
Increased systemic vascular resistance
QuestionChoice
This answer is incorrect. In pregnancy, there is a dilutional anaemia as the haemoglobin concentration drops due to the increase in plasma volume.
10007465
e
Increased haemoglobin concentration
QuestionChoice
This answer is correct. An increase in heart rate of around 25% is a normal physiological response in pregnancy. Increases in both heart rate and stroke volume contribute to an increase in cardiac output.
10007461
a
Increase in heart rate
QuestionChoice
This answer is incorrect. Blood pressure decreases in early pregnancy and is restored to pre-pregnancy levels in the late second trimester. Blood pressure should not rise past that of the pre-pregnant state; new-onset hypertension in pregnancy is always abnormal.
10007463
c
Increase in blood pressure
QuestionChoice
This answer is incorrect. In pregnancy, the plasma volume increases by up to 45% compared to the non-pregnant state.
10007464
d
Decreased plasma volume
Concept
Chapter
2693
4581
Maternal Physiology
Topic
175
Reproductive Physiology
14039
A 23-year-old woman attends a booking appointment with her midwife shortly after finding out she is pregnant. At the appointment, the midwife measures her observations.

Which of the following is a normal physiological cardiovascular adaptation in pregnancy?
a