What is an expected change in a pregnant patient's cardiovascular system?

During pregnancy, a woman's body undergoes numerous adaptations to support the growing fetus, one of the most significant being the cardiovascular system. An expected change is the increase in blood volume, which typically rises by about 30% to 50% during pregnancy. This change is essential for several reasons.

Increased blood volume helps ensure sufficient circulation to the developing fetus, provides adequate placental perfusion, and prepares the mother's body for the expected blood loss during childbirth. By enhancing blood volume, the body also maintains blood pressure within normal limits, even as systemic vascular resistance decreases due to hormonal influences and changes in blood vessel elasticity.

In contrast, as the body adapts, heart rate usually increases slightly to accommodate the greater volume of blood moving through the circulatory system, and cardiac output significantly rises as well. These combined physiological changes are critical in supporting the demands of both mother and fetus through gestation.