ISSN:
1471-0528
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Using Doppler ultrasound directed at the aortic arch, stroke and minute distance were measured in 45 normal singleton pregnancies and compared with 42 controls. In the non-pregnant controls, stroke distance was 5% more in the supine than in the left lateral position (P〈0·01) and during pregnancy this relativity was maintained until 36 weeks gestation. In the supine and left lateral positions respectively, stroke distance was increased by 8% (both) at 4 weeks (P〈0·05 and NS), by 14 and 11% at 8 weeks (P〈0·001 and P〈0·01) and showed a maximum increase of 21 and 20% at 16 weeks gestation (both P〈0·001). At 40 weeks, supine stroke distance was 14% less than the non-pregnant control value (P〈0·001), and 6% less than the value in the left lateral position (P〈0·05), which was itself not significantly different from that in the non-pregnant controls. The maximum increase of heart rate was at 32 weeks, by 24% in the supine and by 19% in the left lateral position (both P〈0·001). Minute distance was maximally increased by 37% in the supine at 16 weeks (P〈0·001) and by 30% in the left lateral position at 24 weeks (P〈0·001). Thereafter, minute distance, measured in both positions, declined until at 40 weeks it was not significantly different from the non-pregnant control value.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-0528.1987.tb03140.x
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