Explain the importance of the increase in body water composition during pregnancy.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

A woman's body gains a good deal of water during pregnancy, primarily due to increased volumes of plasma and extracellular fluid, as well as amniotic fluid. The primary purpose of increased body water composition is to expand blood flow and nutrient transfer to the placenta and fetus. Total body water increases in pregnancy range from 7 to 10 L. About two-thirds of the expansion is intracellular (blood and body tissues) and one-third is extracellular (fluid in spaces between cells). Plasma volume begins to increase within a few weeks after conception and reaches a maximum at approximately 34 weeks. Early pregnancy surges in plasma volume appear to be the primary reason that pregnant women feel tired and become exhausted easily when undertaking exercise performed routinely prior to pregnancy. Fatigue associated with plasma-volume increases in the second and third months of pregnancy declines as other compensatory physiological adjustments are made.Birthweight is strongly related to plasma volume: generally, the greater the expansion, the greater the newborn size. The increased volume of water in the blood is responsible for the "dilution effect" of pregnancy on blood concentrations of some vitamins and minerals.