Krishnan Muralikrishnan¹, Archana Damodaran²

¹Professor and Head,
²Assistant Professor,
Department of Physiology,
Kilpauk Medical College,
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

• Background: Pregnancy is the greatest physiological challenge in a woman’s life that needs wide cardiovascular adjustment to overcome metabolic demands from the growing fetus. Cardiovascular Autonomic nervous control plays a key factor in pregnancy, Derangement of this may end in certain complications such as pregnancy induced hypertension, foetal growth retardation etc.
• Aim: This study is aimed to find out the changes and adaptations in cardiovascular autonomic control during normal pregnancy especially in third trimester primi based on Heart rate variability (HRV) and compared with age matched non- pregnant women.
• Materials and Methods: Following Institutional Ethical clearance, Lead II Electrocardiogram (ECG) was acquired from 30primi women in third trimester using RMS polyrite 2.2 at supine rest for 10 minutes with normal respiration. HRV parameters such as Time and Frequency Domain measures were analyzed using Finland Software 2.1. Statistical Results were taken as significant for p<0.05.
• Results: This study showed reduced HRV with significant parasympathetic withdrawal and sympathetic overdrive in advanced trimester pregnant primi.

Keywords: nervous system, heart rate variability, pregnancy, third trimester