What are some effects of the increased release of adrenaline during transition?

• A. Nausea, chills, hot flashes, trembling
• B. Nausea and dizziness
• C. Sweating only
• D. Headache and fatigue

Answer: (A)

During transition, a surge of adrenaline activates the sympathetic nervous system to prepare for childbirth. This catecholamine burst produces vasomotor changes and heightened physiological arousal, leading to nausea from GI upset, chills from peripheral vasoconstriction followed by fluctuations, hot flashes as the body shifts between constriction and dilation, and tremors from increased muscle activity. These four symptoms together reflect the common effects of adrenaline during this stage, making that option the best fit. Other choices miss one or more of these hallmark effects—for example, restricting to only nausea with dizziness ignores the tremors and vasomotor changes, while sweating alone or headache and fatigue don’t capture the full adrenaline-driven picture.