**2.2 Respiratory system**


These changes make pregnant women more susceptible to severe disease [5].

#### **2.3 Coagulation pathway**

Pregnancy is a hypercoagulable state with:


Covid 19 is associated with high rate of thromboembolic complications which is compounded by changes of pregnancy.

#### **2.4 Vascular system**

Pregnancy increases maternal blood volume, heart rate and cardiac output while systemic resistance decreases. There is an increase in intravascular inflammation [6]. These vascular changes have the potential to impact endothelial function which is a major factor in development of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) with Covid19.

Preeclampsia is an important complication of pregnancy associated with endothelial cell dysfunction and higher rates of preeclampsia have been noted in pregnancies complicated with Covid19 [7].
