Effect of Maternal Asthma on Pregnancy: Respiratory Changes and Control

SCENARIO 1
Clinical scenario A: Respiratory system
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SCENARIO 2
Introduction
Ali et al, (2016: p.460) argued that every expectant mothers undergoes or experiences various
physical and chemical changes in their bodies. Respiratory system is one of the core
physiological area that undergoes a number of changes during pregnancy. For example,
ventilatory pattern, pulmonary function and gaseous exchange are influenced via both
mechanical and chemical pathways. The aim of this assignment is to come up with a
comprehensive information tool that tells the expectant women about the effect of maternal
asthma on pregnancy. The tool will also inform the mother on possible respiratory changes that
occurs in the body during pregnancy and how expectant mother can control asthma, manage
chronic diseases and the effect of failing to control asthma.
Respiratory changes that occurs during pregnancy
The main cause of respiratory changes during period is the physiological changes that occur in
the hormonal pattern. These changes influence the ventilatory functions. One of the hormones
that control the breathing process is the progesterone hormone. However, the hormone gradually
increase during the period of pregnancy. For example, the ranges at 25ng-ml during the first six
weeks but shift to 150ng-ml during the thirty seventh week of the pregnancy (Davenport et al,
2016: p.540). The increase in progesterone hormone increases the sensitivity of the respiratory
system to gases such as carbon dioxide. Apart from that, the progesterone hormone changes the
smooth muscle tone for the air paths. LoMauro and Aliverti, (2015:p. 298) argued that the effect
lead to bronchodilator effect. Besides that effect, the alteration mediates oedema and hyperemia
of mucosal areas leading to the congestion of the nasals. The following table elaborates some of
the changes according to Shagana et al, (2018:p.10).

SCENARIO 3
The second hormone that alters the respiratory functions during pregnancy is the oestrogen. The
level of this hormone that circulates around the body of an expectant mother increases during
pregnancy period. The function of oestrogen is mediate and control the level of progesterone
hormone (Liu et al, 2018: p.892). There is also the issue of prostaglandins. The main duty of
prostaglandins is to stimulate uterine smoot muscle during the period of labor. This hormone
increases the resistance that takes place on the airways. The bronchial smooth muscles always
constrict. There is also various changes that happens on the chest and the lungs of an expectant
mother. The main cause of these changes on the chest and lungs is the progressive uterine
distension. The diaphragm also elevates and change the configuration of the thorax. For example,
the uterus mainly expand this lead to the displacement of the diaphragm in the upward direction.
Such changes bring about various consequences to the expectant mother. For instance, it leads to
negative pressure on the pleural, thus closing tiny airways that exist around the lungs and the
chest. However, the action also lead to the reduction of the respiratory reserve volume and the
functional residual capacity that exist in the lungs. There is a challenge that happens on the chest.