All of the following are changes in the cardiovascular system seen in pregnancy EXCEPT:
ExplanationThe cardiovascular system undergoes many changes in a preg - nant woman to accommodate the needs of the developing fetus. Plasma volume begins to expand early in pregnancy and ultimately is increased by about 40–50% at term. Coincident with the increased plasma volume, cardiac output increases as well by about 40%. Although this is primarily attributable to increases in stroke volume, heart rate also increases in pregnancy by about 10 beats/min. In the second trimester, systemic vascular resistance falls, and subsequently blood pressure decreases as well. Thus, a blood pres - sure greater than 140/90 mmHg is considered abnormal and is associated with increased maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality
