What is the effect of digitalis in the treatment of women with CD during pregnancy?

Digitalis, commonly used in treating heart conditions, has a specific effect on cardiac function that is particularly beneficial in managing heart issues, including in women with cardiac disease (CD) during pregnancy. The correct choice highlights that digitalis improves heart efficiency while also reducing the heart rate.

This effect is primarily due to digitalis's action of inhibiting the Na+/K+ ATPase pump, which increases intracellular sodium levels. This change causes an increase in intracellular calcium through the sodium-calcium exchange, ultimately enhancing the force of heart contractions (positive inotropic effect). At the same time, it decreases the heart rate by increasing vagal tone (negative chronotropic effect).

During pregnancy, women may experience increased blood volume, changes in hemodynamics, and altered stress on the heart. By improving the efficiency of heart contractions and managing heart rate, digitalis helps in achieving better cardiac output and reducing strain on the heart, which is essential during this time.

Other options do not accurately reflect the medication's properties in this context. For instance, digitalis does not increase blood volume; its role is more about regulating the function of the heart itself. It actually strengthens heart contractions rather than weakening them and does not serve any anticoagulant function. Thus