CARDIOVASCULAR CHANGES IN PREGNANCY
- The resting pulse rate increases by 10 beats /min
- Apex is moved laterally
- Cardiac output remains elevated throughout (maximum in the immediate postpartum period)
- X Ray shows larger cardiac silhouette (due to benign pericardial effusion & shifted apex)
- Slight left axis deviation in ECG
- Heart sounds
- s1 loud with exaggerated split
- s2 normal but loud
- s3 loud & easily heard
- Murmurs
- systolic murmur intensified during Inspiration or expiration
- soft diastolic murmur
- continuous murmur arising from breast vasculature