Physiological changes during pregnancy in reproductive system

Physiological changes that takes place in mother's body during pregnancy are associated with and caused by the effect of specific hormones.

Normal uterus measurement -: length 8 cm, width 5 cm, thickness 1.25 cm, weight 60 grams

                              At term -: length 35 cm, width 23 cm, thickness 20 cm, weight 1000 grams

Changes in the reproductive system- 

The changes in the pregnancy that takes place in the reproductive system are a temporary adaptation to meet the need and demands of the fetus.

1. Uterus - 

Their is enormous growth of the uterus during pregnancy. The uterus which is non pregnant state weight about 50 gm and measures about 8 cm in length, at term weight 900-1000 gm and measures 35 x 23 x 20 cm. Changes occur in all the part of uterus - body, isthmus and cervix.

What is Labour

Definition of labour -

''Series of events that take place in the genital organ in an effort to expel the viable products of conception out of the womb through the vagina.''

It may occur prior to completed 37 weeks, when it called preterm labour. Expulsion of previable fetus occurs through the same process but in a miniature form, is called mini labour. Delivery is the expulsion or extraction of a viable fetus out of the womb. It is not synonymous with of labour. Delivery can take place without labour as in elective caesarean section. Delivery may be vaginal or it may be abdominal.

Related  Articles :

• Pain during labour
• What is bearing down efforts during labour
• Causes for onset of labour
• Stages of labour
• Events in first stage of labour

Changes occur during 40th week of pregnancy

Baby's Development -

• Only 5% of women deliver on their estimated due dates, and many first-time mothers find themselves waiting up to 2 weeks after their due date for their baby to arrive. 
• A baby born at 40 weeks weighs, on average, about 7 pounds, 4 ounces (3,300 grams) and measures about 20 inches (51 cm). 
• Don't expect baby to look like the Gerber baby right off the bat — newborns often have heads temporarily misshapen from the birth canal and may be covered with vernix and blood. 
• Baby's skin may have skin discolorations, dry patches, and rashes, these many variations are completely normal. 
• Because of the presence of hormones in baby's system, baby's genitals (scrotum in boys and labia in girls) may appear enlarged. 
• Right after birth, health care provider will suction mucus out of baby's mouth and nose, and mother will hear that long-awaited first cry. Baby may then be placed on stomach, and the umbilical cord is cut. 
• A series of quick screening tests, such as the Apgar score, will be performed to assess baby's responsiveness and vital signs, and he or she will be weighed and measured.

Woman's Body -

Woman may have learned about the three stages of birth by health care provider. The first stage of labor works to thin and stretch cervix by contracting uterus at regular intervals. The second stage of labor is when she push her baby into the vaginal canal and out of body. The third and final stage of labor is when she deliver the placenta. 

If woman don't go into labor within a week of due date, her health care provider may recommend her receive a nonstress test, which monitors fetal heart rate and movement to be sure that the baby is receiving adequate oxygen and that the nervous system is responding. 

If labor isn't progressing, health care provider may induce labor by artificially rupturing the membranes or by administering the hormone oxytocin or other medications. If pregnancy is high risk, or if there are any other potential complications, woman may require a cesarean section delivery. 

Some women know ahead of time that they will be delivering via cesarean section and are able to schedule their baby's "birth day" well in advance. But it might not be the birth experience.


Related  Articles :

• Abruptio placentae (Early separation of placenta)
• Cause of implantation of placenta in lower uterine segment
• NST (Non Stress Test) in pregnancy
• Events in first stage of labour
• Changes occur during 38th week of pregnancy

Changes occur during 39th week of pregnancy

Baby's Development -

• Umbilical cords, which carry nutrients from the placenta to the baby, vary in size but average about 22 inches (55 cm) long and half an inch (1-2 cm) thick. Sometimes the umbilical cord can become wrapped around a baby’s neck. Generally, this doesn’t cause problems, although a cesarean delivery could be required if it causes pressure on the umbilical cord during labor or delivery. 
• A true knot in the umbilical cord is much less common, occurring in only about 1% of pregnancies. 
• Most of the vernix that covered baby's skin has disappeared, as has the lanugo. 
• Mother's body has been supplying the baby with antibodies through the placenta that will help the baby's immune system fight infection for the first 6-12 months of life.

Woman's Body -

Braxton Hicks contractions may become more pronounced, also called "false labor". These contractions may be as painful and strong as true labor contractions but do not become regular and do not increase in frequency as true contractions do. 

Another sign of labor, the rupture of amniotic sac, could happen any day now. When their water breaks, some women experience a large gush of water and some feel a steady trickle. Many women don’t experience their water breaking until they’re well into labour. If woman think her water has broken or she is experiencing regular contractions, contact to health care provider.


Related  Articles :

• Placenta previa (Implantation of placenta in lower uterus)
• What is bearing down efforts during labour
• Management of normal labour
• Braxton-Hicks Contractions
• CST (Contraction stress test) or OCT (Oxytocin challenged test)
• Changes occur during 40th week of pregnancy

Changes occur during 38th week of pregnancy

Baby's Development -

• Baby weighs about 6 pounds, 6 ounces (2,900 grams) by now and measures about 13.4 inches (34 cm) in length from crown to rump. 
• Fat is still accumulating, although growth is slower now. 
• Woman may notice that her weight gain has decreased or ceased. Since her baby has had the muscles to suck and swallow amniotic fluid, waste material has been accumulating in his or her intestines. Cells shed from the intestines, dead skin cells, and lanugo hair are some of the waste products that contribute to meconium, a greenish-black substance that constitutes baby's first bowel movement. 
• If woman is having a boy, his testicles have descended into the scrotum, unless he has a condition called undescended testicle. If she is having a girl, the labia are now completely developed.

Woman's Body -

• Because baby is engaged in pelvis, bladder is extremely compressed, making frequent bathroom trips a necessity. It is temporary till delivery. 
• Braxton Hicks contractions could be more frequent and stronger.
• Taking a gentle walk may ease some of aches and pains.      

Related  Articles :

• Abruptio placentae (Early separation of placenta)
• Cause of bleeding in placenta previa
• Role of gravity after childbirth
• Pain during labour
• Physiology of normal labour
• Changes occur during 39th week of pregnancy

Changes occur during 37th week of pregnancy

Baby's Development -

This week, baby is considered full-term. But baby hasn't stopped growing yet. He or she continues to develop fat at the rate of half an ounce (14 grams) a day. In general, boys weigh more than girls at birth. Baby has developed enough coordination to grasp with the fingers. If shown a bright light, baby may turn toward it in uterus.


Woman's Body -

After this week, woman may lose the mucous plug that sealed off uterus from infection. The mucous plug can be lost a few weeks, days, or hours before labor and is thick, yellowish, and may be tinged with blood (the mucous plug is also called bloody show). As the cervix dilates in preparation for the labor, the plug is discharged from the body. Tell to health care provider about any discharge woman may be having.


Related  Articles :

• Cause of implantation of placenta in lower uterine segment
• Stages of labour
• FETUS-IN-UTERO (Lie, Presentation and Position)
• Changes occur during 38th week of pregnancy

Changes occur during 36th week of pregnancy

Baby's Development -

There is fat on baby’s cheeks, and powerful sucking muscles also contribute to baby's full face. The bones that make up baby’s skull can move relative to one another and overlap each other your baby’s head is inside pelvis. This phenomenon is called molding, and it helps the baby pass through the birth canal.


Woman's Body -

Doctor or midwife may give an internal exam to determine if cervical effacement (thinning of the cervix) or dilation (opening of the cervix) has begun. woman may experience engagement (also known as lightening), which is when the baby drops into the mother's pelvis in preparation for labor. Appetite may return because the baby is no longer putting as much pressure on stomach and intestines.


Related  Articles :

• NST (Non Stress Test) in pregnancy
• Episiotomy procedure
• Causes of IUGR
• Placenta previa (Implantation of placenta in lower uterus)
• Changes occur during 37th week of pregnancy