What is the purpose of the maternal blood volume increase during pregnancy?

• A. To provide adequate hydration of fetal and maternal tissues.
• B. To cause hypertension.
• C. To increase red cell destruction.
• D. To decrease plasma proteins.

Answer: (A)

The purpose of increasing maternal blood volume is to ensure adequate tissue perfusion and oxygen delivery to both fetal and maternal tissues. As pregnancy progresses, the placenta demands more blood flow to supply oxygen and nutrients, and expanding plasma volume helps maintain this perfusion even as cardiovascular dynamics change. This volume reserve also helps the body cope with blood loss at delivery. Hypertension isn’t the goal of this adaptation, and the body actually increases red cell mass to improve oxygen transport rather than promoting destruction of red cells. Decreasing plasma proteins isn’t the aim, since the goal is to preserve effective circulating volume and tissue perfusion.