Your CO2 levels are often lower during pregnancy due to hormonal changes that affect your breathing. Specifically, the increased levels of progesterone cause you to breathe faster and deeper.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
- Hormonal Influence: The primary reason for lower CO2 levels during pregnancy is the increased production of progesterone.
- Increased Respiration: Progesterone signals your body to breathe more rapidly and deeply. This leads to hyperventilation, even though you might not feel like you are breathing faster.
- CO2 Exhalation: As you breathe more frequently and deeply, you exhale more carbon dioxide (CO2). According to the Merck Manual, as you exhale more carbon dioxide, the level of carbon dioxide remains low. CO2 is a waste product produced during respiration.
- Normal Physiological Change: This change is considered a normal physiological adaptation to pregnancy.
| Feature | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Hormone | Progesterone |
| Effect | Signals the body to breathe faster and deeper. |
| Result | Increased exhalation of carbon dioxide (CO2). |
| Outcome | Lower CO2 levels in the blood. |
| Significance | Normal physiological change during pregnancy. |
In summary, low CO2 during pregnancy is often a direct result of hormonal changes leading to increased respiration and CO2 exhalation, as stated in the Merck Manuals.
