College Answer

The question asked for a description of the respiratory changes throughout pregnancy, which
includes labour. Simple lists of changes did not score highly. A straightforward structure including;
first, second and third trimester delineation would have elevated many answers from below par
to a pass. Many good answers gave succinct detail on both mechanical respiratory changes and
the hormonal mechanisms behind them. Higher scoring answers also described the overall effect
of individual changes to spirometry, geometry or respiratory control.

Discussion