The body undergoes a lot of changes during pregnancy including changes to the circulatory system. It changes to meet the demands of your body and that of your growing baby. Blood supplies all the nutrients and oxygen your baby needs during pregnancy.

During pregnancy,  oxygenated blood enters the placenta from the arteries and is  sent to the baby though the umbilical cord. The fetus extracts the oxygen and nutrients it needs from the blood and sends deoxygenated blood back to the placenta though 2 umbilical cord arteries. The deoxygenated blood is sent to your cardiovascular system and transported back to your lungs through your veins for oxygenation.

What happens to the cardiovascular system during pregnancy

During pregnancy , blood volume and cardiac output increases about 30 to 50% . This peaks around pregnancy week 24  and starts dropping around pregnancy week 30. Heart rate also rises about 90 beats per minute. Blood pressure usually drops in the second trimester but rises again in the third trimester. Your blood composition also changes creating a higher ratio of plasma to red blood cells than in non-pregnant women.

What problems do changes in the circulatory system cause during pregnancy

Changes in blood circulation during pregnancy can result in the following  discomforts

• swelling especially in the legs and feet due to increased blood volume and pressure on the veins in the lower extremities
• low and high blood pressure can cause headache and fatigue during pregnancy
• hemorrhoids may result due to restricted blood flow to the lower half of the body

Complications that may result if the circulatory system does not function well include the following :

• intrauterine restricted growth  IURG
• placental defects
• umbilical cord problems
• pre eclampsia
• anemia

It is important to maintain a regular prenatal care throughout  pregnancy .
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