What happens to the respiratory rate during pregnancy?

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Multiple Choice

What happens to the respiratory rate during pregnancy?

Explanation:
During pregnancy, hormonal changes raise the ventilatory drive, making the breathing center more sensitive to carbon dioxide. At the same time, the body's metabolism speeds up, producing more carbon dioxide and needing more oxygen. To meet these demands, ventilation increases, and this often shows up as a faster breathing rate. While breaths can also become deeper, the tendency toward tachypnea reflects the heightened drive to ventilate. This is why a faster respiratory rate is the best answer.

During pregnancy, hormonal changes raise the ventilatory drive, making the breathing center more sensitive to carbon dioxide. At the same time, the body's metabolism speeds up, producing more carbon dioxide and needing more oxygen. To meet these demands, ventilation increases, and this often shows up as a faster breathing rate. While breaths can also become deeper, the tendency toward tachypnea reflects the heightened drive to ventilate. This is why a faster respiratory rate is the best answer.

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