Pregnancy in Details (Essay Sample)

Pregnancy in Details
Name
Pregnancy
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Instructor
Institution
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Table of Contents
 TOC \o "1-3" \u 1.0 Introduction  PAGEREF _Toc369779126 \h
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1.1 Basis for Reproduction  PAGEREF _Toc369779127 \h
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2.0 Physiology of Normal Pregnancy  PAGEREF _Toc369779128 \h
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2.1 Stages of Prenatal Development  PAGEREF _Toc369779129 \h
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2.1.1 Germinal Stage  PAGEREF _Toc369779130 \h
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2.1.2 The Embryonic Stage  PAGEREF _Toc369779131 \h
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2.1.3 The Foetal Stage  PAGEREF _Toc369779132 \h
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2.2 Placenta Development and Function  PAGEREF _Toc369779133 \h
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2.3 Uterine Changes  PAGEREF _Toc369779134 \h
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3.0 Structural and Functional Changes to Maternal Systems  PAGEREF _Toc369779135 \h
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3.1 Musculoskeletal System  PAGEREF _Toc369779136 \h
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3.2 Gastrointestinal System  PAGEREF _Toc369779137 \h
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4.0 Maternal Physiological Adaptations of the Cardiovascular System  PAGEREF _Toc369779138 \h
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5.0 Maternal Physiological Adaptations of the Respiratory System  PAGEREF _Toc369779139 \h
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5.1 Mechanical Factors  PAGEREF _Toc369779140 \h
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5.2 Hormonal Factors  PAGEREF _Toc369779141 \h
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5.3 Foetal Demands  PAGEREF _Toc369779142 \h
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5.4 Acid-Base Changes during Pregnancy  PAGEREF _Toc369779143 \h
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6.0 Maternal Physiological Adaptations of the Renal System  PAGEREF _Toc369779144 \h
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6.1 Structural Changes  PAGEREF _Toc369779145 \h
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6.2 Hemodynamic Changes  PAGEREF _Toc369779146 \h
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6.3 Fluid and Electrolyte Homeostasis  PAGEREF _Toc369779147 \h
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7.0 Summary  PAGEREF _Toc369779148 \h
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References  PAGEREF _Toc369779149 \h
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Pregnancy
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Basis for Reproduction
Pregnancy is defined as the fertilization of an offspring, which is referred as an embryo, and begins when the male gamete merges with the oocyte. One of the major underlying factors in reproduction is giving life, and a healthy reproductive system ensures healthy children. In that case, taking care of one’s reproductive system is paramount as any problems might make it impossible for a woman to get pregnant. Pregnancy is an experience that is full of changes, challenges, and growth, whereby couples confront their expectations and fears with regard to being parents, hence determining their parenting style. The entire process causes various psychological changes during the three trimesters (Stables & Rankin 2010). For instance, according to Peters (2010) and Gernsheimer (2012), some women suffer from stress as well as thrombocytopenia during diverse gestational periods. This paper focuses on analysing the process of pregnancy in more details, including its development and impact.
2.0 Physiological Stages of Development
2.1 Stages of Prenatal Development
2.1.1 Germinal Stage
The germinal stage lasts between eight to ten days or two weeks in which the egg is attached to the uterine wall as seen in the diagram below:
The Germinal Stage


Source: The Germinal Period (n.d)
The diagram above shows a period of differentiation and cell division in which the cell matures to eight stages to ensure successful implantation. The implantation occurs when the blastocyst gets into the endometrium. Subsequently, a woman starts experiencing hormonal changes that stops her menstrual cycle, causing various physical and psychological changes. For example, some women who enjoy drinking alcohol and smoking might become disinterested as nature’s way of protecting the life inside them (Rathus 2010).
2.1.2 The Embryonic Stage
The third week after the conception period marks the beginning of the embryonic stage. This is a time where the embryo starts to divide into three distinct layers and where a neural tube forms, which later develops into a central nervous system. During the fourth week, the head starts to form, followed by the nose, eyes, ears, and mouth. In the fifth week, the embryo starts to form buds that later develop to become legs and arms. By the eighth week, the embryo develops all the basic organs, excluding the sex organs (Rathus 2010).
2.1.3 The Foetal Stage
When cell differentiation is almost complete, the embryo enters the foetal stage, which lasts from the ninth week until the delivery period. During this period, the neural tube forms into the spinal cord and the brain. Moreover, the foetus increases in size, and the central nervous as well as the brain become more responsive (Blackburn 2012). In the seventh to ninth month, the foetus continues to add more weight, and the lungs continue to contract and expand, hence preparing the muscles to ensure successful breathing. Additionally, other different parts of the body become apparent as seen in the diagram below:
The Foetal Stage


Source: Human Embryology (n.d)
The diagram above shows a foetus in its last stage, with its fully developed umbilical cord, nose, eyes, finger, toes, mouth, and ears.
Some of the major impacts of pregnancy in the three stages are constipation, fluctuation of emotions, and frequent urination. Others are sore breasts, morning sickness, cramping of muscles, insomnia, and breathiness mostly during the third trimester (Blackburn 2012).
2.2 Placenta Development and Function
The placenta is an organ, which is attached in the lining of a woman’s womb when she is pregnant. The development of the placenta is usually a continuous process after fertilization, whereby the initial development takes place in the fallopian tube. After four days, the morula gets into the uterus, whereby it forms into a blastocyst. The blastocyst contains a trophoblast that helps in forming the placenta. The placenta has various functions that include keeping the unborn baby’s blood separate from the mother’s and producing progesterone and estrogen hormones that help the baby to develop. Additionally, the placenta protects the baby from bacteria and passes antibodies from the mother to the baby. In that case, the function of the placenta is paramount as it also helps in disposing toxic wastes and nourishing the foetus (Regnault et al. 2002).
2.3 Uterine Changes
The uterus is significant in conceiving and carrying the baby during the entire pregnancy period. Changes in the uterus start as early as two or three weeks. To attain full maturity, the uterus increases twenty times from its original weight. Additionally, its blood vessels, nerves, muscles, and elastic tissue increases in size. By the end of the second month, the shape changes from elongated to one that is oval. In the fourth month, the uterus develops into an abdomen; thus, the abdominal wall ends up expanding. From the beginning of the sixth month, the uterus softens, changes position, and increases in size. Research shows that during the last stages of pregnancy, pressure coming from the uterus might cause the abdominal wall muscles to separate in a process called diastasis. The expansion of the uterus has various impacts on a woman, such as pains and aches in the abdomen, thighs, back, and the groin area (Ricci & Kyle 2009).
3.0 Structural and Functional Changes to Maternal Systems
3.1 Musculoskeletal System
O’Toole and Artal (2003) assert that physiological and anatomical changes during the pregnancy period affect the musculoskeletal system. One of the obvious effects is weight gain, which heightens the forces across one’s joints, for instance, the knees and the hips. Such an immense force causes discomfort to the joints and might increase damage in case one has unstable joints. Additionally, a woman’s balance is highly likely to be affected by changes in their posture, thus heightening the risks of falling. Another major musculoskeletal change in pregnancy is the increase in ligamentous laxity due to high levels of relaxin and oestrogen. Consequently, this puts women under heightened incidence of sprains and strains.
3.2 Gastrointestinal System
During pregnancy, the muscles that are found in the walls of the gastrointestinal system end up relaxing at a slower rate, and the speed at which food gets out of the stomach is slowed to some extent. Most pregnant women feel nauseated and have heartburn. This is because as the foetus grows, it occupies the mother’s stomach, pushing it higher than its normal size. Moreover, the acids found in the mother’s stomach, which help in digesting food, are pushed to her chest, which result into a burning feeling. Changes in the gastrointestinal system also result into other complaints such as emesis, haemorrhoids, constipation, nausea, and gastroesophageal reflux. Gastroesophageal reflux is caused by increased acid refluxes, hence causing inflammation of the oesophagus, bloating of the stomach, heartburn, abdominal discomfort, and chest pain (Beck 2010).
4.0 Maternal Physiological Adaptations of the Cardiovascular System
Pregnancy causes profound changes in maternal haemodynamics such as increase in the heart rate, blood volume, blood pressure, and cardiac output. It also causes various physical changes that include coagulation and haemostasis. When a woman is in her mid-pregnancy, the cardiac outputs are heightened to around 30 to 50% as compared to how she was before pregnancy. Additionally, various studies show that the maternal stroke volume heightens by 10%, followed by an increase of around 20% of the heart rate in the second and third trimester. Such haemodynamic changes are important in offering oxygen and nutrients to both the foetus and the mother when undergoing strenuous or moderate physical activity (O’Toole & Artal 2003). In addition, the progesterone reduces vascular resistance, thus lowering the woman’s blood pressure. However, the blood pressure returns to normal during the last stages of the pregnancy, but the cardi...