Hemodynamic changes during pregnancy and postpartum: a prospective study using thoracic electrical bioimpedance.

OBJECTIVE

To describe hemodynamic changes in normal pregnancy and postpartum by means of thoracic electrical bioimpedance (TEB).

METHODS

Eighteen healthy pregnant women were included in the study. Eight different hemodynamic variables were measured by thoracic electrical bioimpedance, from 12th week of gestation until 6th month of postpartum period. Data along pregnancy and postpartum were analyzed with SAS statistical software to compare the different values, so normality curves are reported.

RESULTS

Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR), and peripheral vascular resistances (PVRs) seem to significantly decrease until 24th week of gestation, and then they seem to increase until delivery, recovering normal values gradually during postpartum period. End-diastolic volume (EDV), systolic volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), and ejection fraction (EF) seem to decrease until 48 h after delivery; statistical significance was found.

CONCLUSIONS

Thoracic electrical bioimpedance may be the most appropriate and accurate technique to measure normal hemodynamic changes during pregnancy and postpartum.