Anatomical & Physiological Changes During Pregnancy

Abstract

Institutional Affiliation 4th May 2021 Anatomical and Physiological Changes Introduction Women experience many transformations during pregnancy as a result of hormonal fluctuations and the need to create room for a growing fetus. Some of these changes are categorised into anatomical and physiological occurring during fertilization, embryonic and fetus development, birth and postpartum stages of pregnancy. This research paper is focused on changes, the hormones that regulate ovarian cycle and the comparison between Oogenesis and spermatogenesis. Fertilization and Embryonic development Fertilization and embryo development start between first to eight week of pregnancy. During this stage, the development is an uninterrupted process starting with the formation of a zygote when sperm from a male fertilizes ovum from a female (Bhatia & Chhabra, 2018). The ovum is fertilized into zygote through division, migration, development and arrangement of cells and eventually develops into a multi-cellular human being (Bhatia & Chhabra, 2018). The change that happens to zygote is the multiplication of cells due to the process known as cleavage. Also, compaction process where the cells change their shape and closely arrange themselves against each other happens in this stage. After this period, the differentiation and development of the tissues and organs structured during the embryonic process happens (Bhatia & Chhabra, 2018). Some of the anatomical changes include the growth of placenta and umbilical cord which mark the connection between the developing fetus and the mother. Fetal Development The fetal development starts on the 9th week and ends at birth. During the development of fetus inside the womb, many anatomical changes happen to a pregnant woman. In the second trimester, the enlargement in the size of uterus increase up to 20 times (Bhatia & Chhabra, 2018). The woman also experiences abdominal expansion, increase in weight, breast enlargement and specific postural transformation. The position and shape of the uterus also changes while the muscular wall around the uterus strengthens and grows to be more elastic. The vaginal mucosa becomes thick and prepares to expand through labor and birth. Other body system such as musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, integumentary and respiratory adjusts to provide for maternal and fetal necessities (Bhatia & Chhabra, 2018). In the third trimester, the development of fetus increase rapidly and the last weight gain happens. The abdomen falls as the fetal head settles into the pelvis and fetal movement can become extremely strong. Now the woman feels prepared to give birth. Most of the physiological changes happen during the final stages of pregnancy in reaction to hormones that trigger labor. At the beginning of several pregnancy months, the progesterone restrains uterine contractions but at seven months, the level of progesterone plateau and reduces (Soma-Pillay, 2016). The level of estrogens keeps on rising in the maternal circulation which forces the smooth muscle of the uterine to be more responsive to stimuli that support contractions (Soma-Pillay, 2016). At 8 months, the rise of fetal cortisol occurs and it enhances estrogen discharge by the placenta and overwhelms the uttering-calming influence of progesterone. Birth This stage begins when the newborn takes their first breath. It is characterized with physiological changes in respiratory and hemodynamic (Soma-Pillay, 2016). Establishing respirations is important to the newborn’s transition as lungs will transform to be the gas exchange organ after parting from maternal uterus placental circulation. The blood flow struggle of the baby’s blood vessels is increased. The fluid are soaked up from the respiratory systems while the lungs fill with air and starts operating on their own, transporting oxygen into the bloodstreams and getting rid of carbon dioxide through exhalation...