What is the increase in plasma volume by the late third trimester of a first pregnancy?

About 50%

Which cardiovascular variable has the greatest percentage decrease during the first trimester?

Total peripheral resistance (−27 resistance units)

Riddle: I am a hormone that indicates pregnancy and increases production of binding globulins. What am I?

Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG)

True or False: During pregnancy, stroke volume decreases significantly in the first trimester.

False. Stroke volume begins to rise slightly later in the first trimester.

The total extracellular fluid volume increases by around ______ by term.

16%

What happens to the tidal volume during pregnancy?

It increases by ~30% in early pregnancy, reaching 40–50% above non-pregnant levels by term.

In late pregnancy, plasma glucose concentrations increase despite higher plasma insulin levels. This indicates ______.

Relative insulin resistance

Which factor increases significantly during pregnancy, contributing to low-grade coagulopathy?

Plasma fibrinogen doubles.

Fill-in-the-blanks: The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) increases by about ______ by the 9th week of pregnancy.

45%

What is the primary effect of progesterone on the respiratory system during pregnancy?

It drives the increase in tidal volume by lowering the CO₂ threshold.

True or False: Erythropoietin levels decrease during pregnancy.

False. Erythropoietin rises during pregnancy.

Riddle: I am a measure of how fast blood cells settle in a tube, rising during pregnancy. What am I?

Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate

What happens to the serum iron concentration during pregnancy?

It decreases.

In which trimester does the plasma volume increase more than red cell mass, causing dilutional decreases in hemoglobin concentration?

Throughout pregnancy

Fill-in-the-blanks: The increase in maternal blood volume during pregnancy is largely due to ______.

Plasma volume expansion

What changes occur in the gallbladder during pregnancy?

It tends to enlarge and its emptying process becomes slower.

True or False: The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is activated later in pregnancy.

False. The RAS is activated early in pregnancy.

What effect does increased progesterone have on urinary calcium excretion during pregnancy?

Urinary calcium excretion is two to three times higher than in non-pregnant women.

Riddle: I am the process that increases tidal volume by enhancing CO₂ sensitivity in the brain during pregnancy. What am I?

Ventilation

What change occurs in the pancreas during pregnancy?

The size of the islets of Langerhans and the number of β-cells increase.

Fill-in-the-blanks: The increase in blood oxygen-carrying capacity during pregnancy is about ______.

18%

What physiological adaptation occurs in the kidneys during pregnancy?

The kidneys increase in size due to a 70% increase in kidney tissue.

True or False: The total white blood cell count decreases during pregnancy.

False. The total count rises, mainly due to increased neutrophils.

What is the effect of pregnancy on the thyroid gland's iodine clearance?

The thyroid's clearance of iodine increases threefold.

Riddle: I am a hormone that helps regulate calcium levels, doubling during pregnancy. What am I?

1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D

What change occurs in the levels of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) during pregnancy?

It increases, aiding oxygen unloading to the fetus.

Fill-in-the-blanks: The changes in renal function during pregnancy are mostly finalized by the end of the ______.

First trimester

What is the typical change in serum uric acid levels during early pregnancy?

They drop by about 25%.

True or False: Plasma bicarbonate levels increase in pregnant women.

False. Plasma bicarbonate levels decrease during pregnancy.

What happens to the levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol during pregnancy?

HDL cholesterol rises.