Self-Assessment Questions (SAQs) for Study Session 7
Now that you have completed this study session, you can assess how well you have achieved its Learning Outcomes by answering these questions. Write your answers in your Study Diary and discuss them with your Tutor at the next Study Support Meeting. You can check your answers with the Notes on the Self-Assessment Questions at the end of this Module.
SAQ 7.1 (tests Learning Outcome 7.2)
What causes back pain in pregnant women?
Answer
Back pain is common in pregnant women because their posture changes to accommodate the weight of the growing uterus. The back curves inwards and the belly curves outwards, putting strain on the back, which can cause pain.
SAQ 7.2 (tests Learning Outcome 7.3)
A pregnant woman gained 2 kg in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, then 0.5 kg a week for the next 10 weeks, then 0.1 kg for the last 10 weeks. What is her total weight gain at full term? What does this suggest might be happening?
Answer
This woman’s weight gain was normal for the first 30 weeks of her pregnancy: she gained 2 kg in the first 20 weeks and 0.5 kg every week for the next ten weeks. However, she would be expected to gain 0.5 kg every week from 30-40 weeks, but her weight gain slowed down to 0.1 kg per week in this period. It is not possible to tell whether this slow weight gain near the end of pregnancy is a sign that the fetus is not developing normally, but it should certainly be investigated at a health facility. Some women have normal pregnancies without gaining much weight, but in others it is a sign of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) of the fetus.
SAQ 7.3 (tests Learning Outcome 7.4)
Why is it important for pregnant women to have more iron-rich foods in their diet, or take iron tablets?
Answer
Pregnant women normally experience mild physiological anaemia because their blood volume increases faster than the rise in the number of red blood cells in their circulation. Iron is required for the production of haemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying substance in red blood cells. If a woman doesn’t have enough iron in her body, she won’t be able to make enough red blood cells, so her anaemia could become serious. Eating a diet containing plenty of iron-rich foods, or taking iron tablets, helps her to make enough red blood cells to carry the oxygen she and her growing fetus need.
SAQ 7.4 (tests Learning Outcome 7.4)
What could happen to a pregnant woman if she is lying on her back? Explain your answer.
Answer
If a pregnant woman is lying on her back, the weight of her uterus presses down on the major blood vessel (the vena cava) returning blood from her body to her heart. This in turn leads to less blood being pumped out of her heart to the rest of her body, so her blood pressure drops suddenly. She may experience dizziness, or even a loss of consciousness, because not enough oxygen is reaching her brain.
SAQ 7.5 (tests Learning Outcome 7.5)
What information might help you to make a decision on the need for medical advice when a pregnant woman has shortness of breath?
Answer
Shortness of breath is common in pregnancy as the uterus grows and crowds the mother’s lungs, so she has less room in which to breathe. But if she is also weak, tired and short of breath all the time, you should refer her to seek medical advice. She could be anaemic, or have heart problems, or possibly her diet is poor.
SAQ 7.6 (tests Learning Outcomes 7.1, 7.2, 7.4 and 7.5)
Which of the following statements is false? In each case, say why it is incorrect.
A Lying flat after a meal is recommended for pregnant women because it helps digestion.
B Frequent urination in late pregnancy is normal because the uterus pushes down on the bladder.
C Heart rate, stroke volume and cardiac output all increase during pregnancy.
D Oedema in pregnancy gets worse during the night.
E Pigmentation may appear on the face, or as a dark line on the abdomen in some pregnant women.
F Colostrum should not be fed to newborn babies.
G Progesterone causes the uterus to increase in size to accommodate the growing fetus.
Answer
A is false. Lying flat after a meal is not recommended in pregnancy and it does not help digestion. The contents of the pregnant woman’s stomach will be pushed upwards into her oesophagus in her chest if she is lying down, and the acids that digest her food can cause a burning sensation known as ‘heartburn’.
B is true. Frequent urination in late pregnancy is normal because the uterus pushes down on the bladder and it can hold less urine.
C is true. Heart rate, stroke volume and cardiac output all increase during pregnancy, because the woman’s larger body, uterus and the fetus all need a larger blood flow to provide them with nutrients and oxygen.
D is false. Oedema in pregnancy usually improves during the night. The fluids that collect in the woman’s legs during the daytime are absorbed into her blood stream when her legs are raised in bed at night.
E is true. Pigmentation may appear on the face, or as a dark line on the abdomen in some pregnant women.
F is false. Colostrum should always be fed to newborn babies. It is rich in proteins and contains the mother’s antibodies, which help to protect the baby from infection.
G is true. Progesterone causes the uterus to increase in size to accommodate the growing fetus.
Summary of Study Session 7