The Pulse Wave Analysis of Normal Pregnancy: Investigating the Gestational Effects on Photoplethysmographic Signals

Abstract

This study has confirmed that normal pregnancy is associated with profound alterations in PPG signals occurred principally as a result of maternal cardiovascular adaptation and PPG-based noninvasive assessment of cardiovascular activities is feasible throughout pregnancy. Using this technique we demonstrated a delay in wave reflection within the arterial tree and a reduction in magnitude of arterial wave reflections in normal pregnancy which is consistent with previous observations and the known cardiovascular changes of pregnancy.