Final answer:
The statement about obstetrics is true. Obstetrics is a medical specialty focusing on pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. It includes labor physiology, with childbirth proceeding in three stages and pregnancy causing significant maternal bodily changes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that obstetrics is the specialty that deals with women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the period immediately following childbirth is true. Obstetrics is a branch of medicine that specifically focuses on the care of women during this critical period, encompassing the health of both the mother and the fetus or newborn.
Physiology of Labor
Childbirth, or parturition, typically occurs near a woman's due date and involves several physiological changes triggered by hormones that initiate labor. These changes include estrogen and progesterone levels adjustments which play a role in maintaining pregnancy. The process of labor is divided into three stages: the contractions that dilate the cervix, the delivery of the fetus, and the expulsion of the placenta (afterbirth).
Major Changes During Pregnancy
During pregnancy, a woman's body undergoes significant changes, including alterations to the digestive, circulatory, and integumentary systems. For instance, the cardiovascular system adapts to provide increased blood flow to the uterus and support the fetal demands, and the skin may stretch and change pigmentation.