Final answer:
The assertion that postpartum diaphoresis is due to changes in the maternal immune system is false. The profuse sweating is related to the reduction of pregnancy-related excess body fluids.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that changes in the maternal immune system during the postpartum period account for the profuse diaphoresis (sweating) experienced by new mothers is false. Profuse diaphoresis after childbirth is primarily due to the body getting rid of excess fluid that accumulates during pregnancy, rather than changes in the immune system. The increased sweating is one of the ways the body adjusts back to its non-pregnant state.
The major changes to maternal systems during pregnancy include the digestive, circulatory, and integumentary systems. These changes are influenced by hormones such as estrogens, progesterone, and hCG that prepare the mother's body for childbirth and nourishing the fetus. The circulatory system adapts by increasing blood volume by about 30 percent to meet the demands of fetal nourishment and waste removal.
During labor and birth, there are several hormonal changes, including the role of oxytocin in a positive feedback loop, which stimulates uterine contractions and progresses labor. Once the baby is born, the mother's body begins to return to its pre-pregnant state, including the loss of excess body fluids resulting in increased sweating.