If there is suddenly less blood leaving the heart, what will happen to the woman’s blood pressure, and how will she feel as a result?
Answer
Lying flat on her back can result in a sudden and dramatic drop in blood pressure, and dizziness or loss of consciousness may occur because not enough oxygen is reaching her brain. After the first trimester, pregnant women are recommended not to lie on their back.
End of answer
The weight gain in pregnant women increases the workload on the body from any physical activity. Steady, non-violent exercise is good for the mother because it prepares her body for labour (Figure 7.2), but sudden strong exercise, or working for too many hours without a break, may make her feel dizzy. This is because the reduced blood pressure and slight physiological anaemia cannot keep pace with the demand of her body for more oxygen.
Figure 7.2 Having too much or too little exercise should be avoided in pregnancy.
A pregnant woman should not do exercises where she is lying on her back, due to the compression of the major blood vessels returning blood to her heart. Strong exercise may lead to decreased blood flow to the uterus because blood is diverted to the muscles, but this has not been shown to have any long-term effects on the baby. Pregnant women should not exercise vigorously in hot weather, or if it makes them breathless, or if there are known risk factors such as a history of miscarriage.
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