Physiological dilutional anemia in a pregnant client is primarily caused by:

Physiological dilutional anemia during pregnancy occurs primarily due to the increased blood volume that a pregnant woman experiences. As the body prepares for the demands of supporting the growing fetus, blood volume increases by about 30% to 50%. This expansion is primarily due to an increase in plasma volume, which outpaces the increase in red blood cells during this time.

While the body also produces more red blood cells to meet the increased oxygen demands of both the mother and the fetus, the degree of plasma volume expansion leads to a dilution of red blood cells, resulting in lower hemoglobin concentrations commonly observed in pregnant women. This condition is physiological and generally resolves after childbirth when blood volume returns to pre-pregnancy levels.

In contrast, decreased iron intake, inherited blood disorders, and chronic renal disease do not primarily cause physiological dilutional anemia but may lead to other types of anemia. Iron intake is crucial for red blood cell production, yet it is not the reason for the dilution observed in this situation. Inherited blood disorders could lead to anemia but are not a typical physiological response to pregnancy. Chronic renal disease impacts kidney function, which can affect red blood cell production but is not directly linked to the physiological changes occurring during pregnancy. Understanding these concepts helps clarify why