What is the common pulse change observed at around 20 weeks of gestation?

Around 20 weeks of gestation, it is typical for the mother's heart rate to increase by about 10-15 beats per minute. This physiological adaptation is primarily due to the significant changes occurring in a pregnant woman's body to support fetal growth and development. As the fetus grows, the overall blood volume increases, leading to the heart needing to pump more blood to ensure adequate oxygen and nutrient delivery to the developing fetus.

Additionally, hormonal changes during pregnancy contribute to this increase in heart rate. Progesterone, which rises significantly during pregnancy, causes vasodilation and can lead to an accelerated heart rate as the body works to maintain proper blood circulation despite the increased blood volume. Therefore, the increase in pulse reflects the body’s adaptation to the demands of pregnancy rather than indicating any pathology, making it a common and expected change around this stage of gestation.

Other potential changes, such as a decrease in pulse or fluctuations, are not typical at this stage, as they do not align with the normal physiological response to pregnancy.