In hypovolemic shock of a pregnant patient, what is true about the early signs of shock?

In hypovolemic shock, particularly in pregnant patients, early signs and symptoms may indeed be masked. This is primarily due to physiological changes that occur during pregnancy. For instance, the body of a pregnant woman undergoes various adaptations to support the growing fetus, such as increased blood volume and changes in cardiovascular dynamics. As a result, a pregnant patient may not exhibit typical signs of shock until a significant amount of blood volume is lost.

Additionally, factors such as the presence of a high baseline blood volume in pregnancy can mean that symptoms of hypovolemic shock—such as tachycardia or hypotension—may not manifest immediately or as severely as they would in a non-pregnant individual. The body prioritizes perfusion to vital organs and the fetus, which can lead to a discrepancy in the perceived state of the mother's health despite potentially critical underlying complications.