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A woman’s body is perhaps the most complex that we have knowledge of. This, of course, because of all the specificities that women carry because of their reproductive system.
And many do not know, but it is extremely important to know every detail of your body when thinking about having a child, so that you have no doubts about the changes that happen during the pregnancy process and how your body reacts to each external element, like exercises, for example.
The uterine arteries are a great example of how many women do not know their bodies completely. After all, what are they and what is the role of uterine arteries during pregnancy? If you have never heard of them and want to know more about their effects on a woman’s body, today’s text is perfect for you.
What are Uterine Arteries and What is their role in Pregnancy?
There are two uterine arteries, one on the right and one on the left. They are the main blood vessels that supply the uterus. They also have several branches throughout the uterus that play an important role in maintaining blood in the menstrual cycle with changes in the endometrium and during pregnancy.
During pregnancy this blood transport is extremely important since it is in this way, through the blood, that the nutrients and vitamins necessary for the proper growth of the fetus reach it.
Doppler study
The Doppler Study is based on the studies done by the physicist Johann Christian Andreas Doppler in the 19th century. Through them, a new type of ultrasound was created, the Doppler . This test is to evaluate and measure the blood flow in the body.
During pregnancy it is common to perform this test, both to measure blood flow in the uterine arteries and to measure the blood flow of the baby, in the heart, brain and also in the umbilical cord.
The Doppler scan is painless for the pregnant woman and the fetus and does not usually last more than 15 minutes. It is usually done via abdominal or vaginal, the latter being the most recommended by doctors during the first three months of pregnancy.
Uterine Artery Resistance
During pregnancy you need to be aware of the level of resistance to the flow of blood that is carried by the uterine arteries. To know it is necessary to perform the Doppler to check how the blood flow is in these arteries.
It is usually performed between week 22 and 26 of gestation. This examination is very important because these levels of resistance, when not suitable for the gestational period, can bring numerous complications.
Ideally, resistance should decrease, but if during resistance this resistance increases the risk of pre-eclampsia or hypertension , in addition to the risk of premature birth and even death of the fetus.
Problems Caused by Uterine Arteries
Among the main problems caused by increased resistance in the uterine arteries are pre-eclampsia and gestational hypertension. It is very common for them to appear in women who have never had a history of high blood pressure and then come to be called DHEG, or hypertensive disease specific to pregnancy . These diseases can cause very serious problems for the woman and also for the baby.
Pre eclampsia
Pre-eclampsia is characterized by an increase in blood pressure in the pregnant woman after the twentieth week, along with the loss of protein in the urine and which may still be accompanied by swelling.
This is a very serious condition that needs to be treated, when this does not happen, preeclampsia can evolve into eclampsia, that is, seizures, which can lead to death for both the mother and the fetus.
We can highlight some risk groups for pre-eclampsia such as pregnant women over 40, who already have some kidney disease, who are having multiple pregnancies or who have already had pre-eclampsia in other pregnancies or some family history of the disease.
Gestational Hypertension
Unlike pre-eclampsia, gestational hypertension is not so severe and is characterized only by the increase in blood pressure during pregnancy and which is exclusive to this period of the woman’s life, that is, when until then there was never evidence of high blood pressure.
It is common for this problem to appear at the end of pregnancy , but it can also happen earlier, as well as pre-eclampsia, after the first 20 weeks. However, it is also necessary to be attentive and take the necessary care so that gestational hypertension does not worsen. Among the risk groups are adolescents and women in their first pregnancy.
How to Prevent and Treat these Problems?
Both problems are among the most common during a pregnancy and are caused by problems with the uterine arteries, so it is very important to perform all prenatal examinations and do a medium follow-up throughout this period.
These are diseases that present a great risk for the development of the baby and the life of both him and the woman. Now, if the results for these problems are positive, some care must be taken.
Probably remedies will be prescribed to control high blood pressure, in addition to a lot of rest and care with food, avoiding sodium, for example. Depending on the time of pregnancy, the woman’s hospitalization may also be indicated so that she has a more intense follow-up. In the most severe cases of pre-eclampsia, induction of labor may be necessary.
Often everything will depend on the functioning of the woman’s body and there is not much to do. We know that during pregnancy it is very important to lead a healthier life, to go for walks, to have a balanced diet because all of this can help to prevent some problems and alleviate others that may inevitably appear.
Knowing your own body and the changes it goes through during your life, especially during pregnancy, is of paramount importance to understand which symptom is really a problem and what is normal.
Speaking specifically of pregnancy, knowing how each organ works, such as the uterine arteries, provides us with greater security when talking to our doctor , in addition to giving us more peace of mind throughout the pregnancy, which is very important.
However, perhaps the greatest positive point of knowing the possible problems that your body may have during pregnancy is because you will know exactly how to avoid them and how to treat them if necessary. Life as a mother begins at this point, when you care about yourself to provide a good birth for your child.
See also: Pregnancy and Obesity – Know the Risks
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.
