Discuss the major changes in maternal physiology that are essential to Essay

Discuss the major changes in maternal physiology that are essential to a healthy pregnancy outcome and give examples of how placenta may adversely affect pregnancy outcome - Essay Example The changes, mostly those relating to early stages of pregnancy, are partially attributable to â€Å"the metabolic demands brought on by the foetus, placenta and the uterus† (Ciliberto & Marx 1998, para. 1). Besides, the increase in the levels of hormones during pregnancy, especially those related to progesterone and oestrogen are also responsible for inducing the changes. However, most of the changes that occur in the later stages of the pregnancy pertain to the woman’s anatomy, as a result of â€Å"mechanical pressure from the expanding uterus† (Ciliberto & Marx 1998, para. 1). The physiological changes that occur in a woman during pregnancy are intended to â€Å"facilitate the adaptation of the cardio-vascular system to the increased metabolic needs of the mother, thus enabling adequate delivery of oxygenated blood to peripheral tissues and the foetus† (Silversides & Colman n.d., p. 1). The physiological and anatomical changes that a woman undergoes dur ing pregnancy have high significance on pregnancy outcomes and appropriate physiological transformation is a crucial element in achieving healthy pregnancy outcomes. There are several changes that occur in pregnant woman during the gestation period, which can be anatomical or physiological, such as: gestational weight gain, cardio-vascular changes, hormonal changes, changes in respiratory system, changes in the immunity system etc. This study will contain an analysis of three of the major changes in maternal physiology, such as Gestational Weight Gain, Hormonal Changes and Changes in the Cardio-Vascular System, as endorsed below: - This is one of the major changes that occur in a pregnant female during gestation period. One significant development during pregnancy is that a woman’s uterus undergoes enlargement and, as a consequence, abdominal viscera gets displaced. This, in turn, causes elevation of the diaphragm as a result of which the heart is moved â€Å"upwards to the left and assumes a