Arterial blood pressure: Systolic and diastolic values both decline early in
the first trimester, reaching a nadir by 24–28 weeks and then gradually rising
toward term (but never returning quite to prepregnancy baseline). Diastolic
falls more than systolic, as much as 15 mm Hg. Arterial blood pressure is
never normally elevated in pregnancy.
Venous blood pressure: Central venous pressure (CVP) is unchanged with
pregnancy, but femoral venous pressure (FVP) increases two- to threefold by
30 weeks’ gestation.
Plasma volume: Plasma volume increases up to 50% with a significant
increase by the first trimester. Maximum increase is by 30 weeks. This
increase is even greater with multiple fetuses.
Systemic vascular resistance (SVR): SVR equals blood pressure (BP)
divided by cardiac output (CO). Because BP decreases and CO increases,
SVR declines by 30%, reaching its nadir by 20 weeks. This enhances
uteroplacental perfusion.
Cardiac output (CO): CO increases up to 50%, with the major increase by
20 weeks. CO is the product of heart rate (HR) and stroke volume (SV), and
both increase in pregnancy. HR increases by 20 beats/min by the third
trimester. SV increases by 30% by the end of the first trimester.
CO is dependent on maternal position.
CO is lowest in the supine position because of inferior vena cava
compression resulting in decreased cardiac return.
CO is highest in the left lateral position.
CO increases progressively through the three stages of labor.