Cardiovascular changes and mental health problems in pregnancy
Cardiovascular changes and mental health problems in pregnancy

Summary/Abstract: Pregnancy is a special new condition for the maternal body in which all of the systems have toundergo changes in order to sustain the development of the fetus. The changes that appearduring pregnancy have essential purposes such as the adjustment of maternal metabolism tosustain fetal development and growth, to prepare for labor, birth and breastfeeding.Pregnancy is characterized by specific cardiovascular changes that start within the first weeksof gestation. The effects of pregnancy on the maternal body are major and these involve thecardiovascular system through all the hemodynamic, hormonal and emotional changes thatoccur. As the pregnancy develops, the quantity of blood that the mothers’ heart has to pumpgrows proportionally. The cardiac output increases, the volemia grows and the heart has toundergo an extra effort to be able to maintain the functionality of organs and systems. Thebirth in itself means a series of neuro-endocrinological and emotional changes on the maternalbody and the cardiac monitoring is vital, especially for the women that already havecardiovascular problems. Pregnancy is often considered a positive period of time in the life ofa woman, in which joy, enthusiasm and other positive emotions are prominent. Still, thehormonal and cardiovascular changes that the body of the future mother undergoes can makepregnancy a time of emotional vulnerability and can present a challenge for her overall wellbeing. Mental health in pregnancy can sometimes be neglected by the medical system, although it is essential for the pregnant woman. The cardiovascular pathology that appearsduring birth can trigger some psychiatric disorders such as depression or anxiety. Theincrease in cardiac output, tachycardia and hypertension can be the primary mechanisms ofcardiac compensation in the peripartum period. These can be the causes of cardiacdecompensation when an associated pathology is present.

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