Toxicosis In Early Pregnancy - Causes, Signs And Symptoms Of Toxicosis In The 1,2,3 Trimester, Treatment

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43

Toxicosis in early pregnancy

Content:

• Causes of toxicosis
• Signs and symptoms of toxicosis
• Toxicosis in the first trimester
• Toxicosis in the second trimester
• Toxicosis in the third trimester
• Toxicosis treatment
• Prevention of toxicosis during pregnancy

Pregnancy is a wonderful time in the life of every woman, a time of unique happiness that the future mother shines with. Unfortunately, quite often pregnancy is overshadowed by such an unpleasant syndrome as toxicosis. What it is, how to fight it and whether it is possible to prevent its occurrence, you will learn from this article.

Causes of toxicosis

The term toxicosis comes from the Greek word toxin, which already carries the definition of this condition. Such a symptom complex occurs in pregnant women due to the effect of endogenous substances with foreign properties on their body.

An intensively growing embryo is only half genetically identical to the mother's organism, so the immune system tries to defend itself by rejecting it.

In addition, with the onset of pregnancy, an intensive restructuring of the functioning of all organ systems of a woman takes place, which in itself is a stressful state. The body of the expectant mother needs to start working to ensure not only its vitality, but also to supply the growing life with all the necessary nutrients, vitamins, minerals, oxygen, as well as to remove the products of its vital activity. Such high demands unbalance the work of all organ systems for many months.

In addition to the above features, it is important to note that the expectant mother must also protect the life developing within her. Exogenous toxic substances that are dangerous for a growing embryo, coming with inhaled air, food intake, through the skin and other routes, can cause a whole range of symptoms. Thus, intoxication of pregnant women is just a defensive reaction designed to protect a developing baby from danger.

Nevertheless, intoxication of the body (due to the fact that the placenta has not formed in the baby, and the woman begins to receive 2 times more toxins than before) in the first trimester of pregnancy is the main cause of toxicosis

Signs and symptoms of toxicosis

Signs of developing toxicosis include not only the classically described gagging, but also:

• Loss of appetite.
• Mood swings.
• Depression, apathy.
• Weight loss.
• Sleep disturbance.
• Dizziness.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Headaches.
• Prostration.
• Drowsiness.
• Irritability.
• Tearfulness and nervousness.
• Change in taste preferences.
• Increased salivation.
• Dryness of the skin.
• Decreased blood pressure, increased heart rate.

Toxicosis in the first trimester

With the onset of pregnancy, almost 90% of women are faced with toxicosis problems. This should not be intimidated, but it should not be considered the norm. You need to learn how to minimize the discomfort from the manifestations of toxicosis in the first weeks of pregnancy, for which it is best to consult a gynecologist. Only a specialist will help you choose a competent complex therapy that will not only improve the quality of life of the expectant mother, but also significantly reduce the risks of complications in the later weeks of pregnancy.

Toxicosis has now become almost a sign of pregnancy, as its symptoms have become so frequent. However, toxicosis is not a norm, but a pathology. The most common manifestations of toxicosis can be seen during the first 3.5 months of pregnancy. Experts suggest that this is due to the beginning of a new regime of the woman's body. During this period, there are global changes in the functioning of the digestive tract, excretory, circulatory, and immune systems. The unborn child is actively developing, giving the mother the products of their vital activity, which are in essence endotoxins.

Also in the female body there is a powerful hormonal change, aimed at preserving and maintaining pregnancy. Changes in hormonal levels invariably lead to disruption of normal health and the appearance of symptoms of toxicosis. But do not worry if the cause of the ailment is only in the hormonal storm. The level of hormones must stabilize by the beginning of the 2nd trimester of pregnancy.

With the onset of toxicosis in the early stages, the psychological discomfort of the expectant mother can also be associated. Not always a woman turns out to be psychologically ready to accept herself in the role of a mother here and now, and not someday, soon. In addition, an aversion to the unpleasant consequences of pregnancy may appear: the process of childbirth, sagging skin, excess weight, etc. Because of such thoughts, the expectant mother may get upset, then the baby's psychological alienation spontaneously appears, and the female body perceives the nascent life as an extremely alien object, giving out the symptoms of severe intoxication.

As a rule, at the end of the first trimester of pregnancy, signs of toxicosis appear less and less, and then disappear altogether. The explanation for this can be found in the complete formation of the placenta, an organ that is inherently a buffer between mother and baby. The placental barrier not only protects the child from the aggressive effects of substances from the outside world, but also significantly reduces the toxic load on the mother's body.

There is a conditional classification of this painful condition. There are 3 degrees:

1. 1 degree. It is considered almost normal if a pregnant woman in the first months of her interesting position develops weakness, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting occurs 1-2 times a day.
2. 2nd degree. With this degree of toxicosis, gagging occurs up to 15 times a day. The woman's quality of life drops significantly, it is necessary to start treatment.
3. 3 degree. This is a very serious condition of a pregnant woman, in which vomiting can be more than 20 times a day. Dehydration of the body occurs, miscarriage is possible. An urgent hospitalization of a woman is necessary, since in the hospital there is a chance not only to reduce the manifestations of toxicosis, but also to preserve a normally developing child.

Toxicosis in the second trimester

Toxicosis can manifest itself in the second trimester of pregnancy. In this case, his symptoms change slightly, which is associated with a more definite cause of toxicosis - not a completely healthy mother's body.

Toxicosis in the 2nd half of pregnancy is manifested mainly if:

• a woman over 30 or under 18;
• there are inflammatory diseases of the reproductive and urinary systems;
• there is a predisposition to diseases of the cardiovascular system.

Several diseases of pregnant women should be distinguished, united by the term toxicosis:

1. dropsy,
2. preeclampsia and eclampsia,
3. nephropathy,
4. more rare - dermatoses, jaundice, tetany, generalized osteomalacia.

Modern researchers have come to the conclusion that signs of toxicosis after 15-16 weeks of pregnancy appear as a result of a disruption in the work of all organ systems of the female body, and first of all it concerns the work of the kidneys!

The main criterion for the severity of this pathology is the degree of disturbance in the functioning of the central nervous system, since it is it that regulates the work of other organs. Mainly, improper regulation of the vascular bed by the nervous system leads to insufficient blood supply to all parts of the body, which is why there is an imbalance in the woman's body and its autointoxication. Then functional disorders in the urinary system begin to appear, which leads to edema, an increase in blood pressure numbers, and a deterioration in the rheological properties of blood. All this can negatively affect the development of the child, who does not receive enough oxygen, nutrients, and the properties of the amniotic fluid, its pollution.

If toxicosis continues after the 14th week of pregnancy, you should immediately consult a doctor. It is necessary to immediately begin therapy for this condition, since already now it poses a danger to the health and life of the mother and fetus. Do not postpone a visit to a specialist: the earlier complex treatment begins, the more likely it is to eliminate severe symptoms of late toxicosis.

Attention! Swelling during pregnancy is not a reason to stop drinking plain clean water! At a minimum, you should continue to drink at least 1.5 liters of water per day, as this is a physiological need.

Toxicosis in the third trimester

Toxicosis in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy is a condition that threatens the health of a woman and the child she is carrying, called gestosis.

Signs of gestosis can be:

• excessive weight gain of a pregnant woman;
• high blood pressure;
• swelling of the limbs and face;
• frequent dizziness, severe headaches;
• muscle cramps;
• loss of consciousness;
• persistent peeling of the skin, rash.

Toxicosis in the last months of pregnancy is also dangerous because it can be hidden. This means that there will be swelling of the tissues of internal organs, the amount of protein excreted in the urine will increase, which can only be determined by laboratory means.

To determine the diagnosis in this case, timely and dynamic observation of a pregnant woman is very important. This is exactly what gynecologists do in antenatal clinics, which is why registration for pregnancy is mandatory in the early stages. To pass urine for analysis every 1-2 weeks is extremely important for detecting latent gestosis and its timely treatment.

A pregnant woman needs specialized help in determining toxicosis in the third trimester of pregnancy. The most reliable will be urgent hospitalization in the antenatal department, where doctors will carry out not only therapeutic measures, but also daily monitoring of the child's condition.

In severe forms of gestosis, urgent surgical care, a cesarean section, which saves the life of the baby and the woman in labor, may be required at any time. We must not forget that with an increase in blood pressure, the development of severe edema and general malaise in a pregnant woman, a child growing in her womb not only lacks the necessary nutrients, but also experiences discomfort. The stressful state during the period of intrauterine development of the baby has a detrimental effect on his life and health in the future.

Toxicosis treatment

Signs of toxicosis, according to many scientists and doctors, have become more frequent due to a significant decrease in the level of general health of women of childbearing age. This is quite logical. Weakened organ systems of the expectant mother receive an additional very large load in the form of a developing embryo. And all this happens against the background of an unbalanced diet, bad habits, constant overwork, healed infections, depression, etc.

But all of the above is only a small part of the iceberg called toxicosis. Before starting the treatment of toxicosis, you need to think about the timely strengthening of the health of the expectant mother. Even when the first symptoms of toxicosis are detected, competent complex strengthening of immunity, full and sufficient nutrition can significantly improve the general condition of a pregnant woman. But first things first.

As mentioned above, one of the causes of toxicosis is the many times overload on the mother's body. At the same time, all organ systems begin to experience stress, energy starvation. Thus, by manifestations of toxicosis, the body seems to inform the woman that it needs support from the outside.

First of all, you need to replenish the reserves of nutrients, vitamins and trace elements necessary for both the female body and the developing embryo. For this, there are a lot of special vitamin complexes for pregnant women, which must be supplemented with vitamin E and folic acid, since they are extremely important in the first weeks of pregnancy for the correct formation and development of organ systems in a child. In addition, with their latent deficiency, severe disorders occur in the woman's body.

It is worth remembering about a rational daily routine. The increase in the load on the female body must be compensated for by full and long sleep, the correct daily regimen, and a balanced diet. It is highly desirable to give up smoking, drinking alcohol and other bad habits. In addition to harm to the female body, they, of course, will not bring anything useful to the development of the embryo. Long walks in the fresh air, on the contrary, will not only eliminate most of the symptoms of early toxicosis, but will also lead to the optimal oxygen content in the vascular bed of the expectant mother, which will positively affect her well-being and the development of the child.

In case of impossibility of rational nutrition, women can use special powdered milk mixtures, the variety of which on the market will satisfy any need. Having picked up such a product, the expectant mother will provide herself and the child with the necessary and sufficient set of nutrients. And this means that the manifestations of toxicosis will significantly decrease, not to mention a decrease in the risk of late intoxication complications.

Treatment of toxicosis at any stage of pregnancy implies an integrated approach. It is necessary to contact a specialist who will conduct a manual examination of the pregnant woman and prescribe laboratory screening. Only having the results of these studies, the doctor should prescribe individual treatment, which is important for a pregnant woman to strictly follow. At the same time, it is also useful to maintain your body with the correct rhythm of life, to prevent overwork, lack of sleep, and abuse of bad habits.

General recommendations

Experts also give general recommendations for eliminating signs of toxicosis:

• It is necessary to drink 0.5 water immediately after waking up, even if you suffer from edema! This is very important for lowering hematocrit and normal kidney function.
• Do not jump out of bed quickly, actions and movements should become smooth, calm.
• You need to rest more, sleep at least 8-10 hours daily.
• A fractional meal is recommended, which means eating food in small quantities, but often.
• Need to drink more. Freshly squeezed juices, fruit drinks, various teas of weak brewing, mineral water without gas are best suited for this. The amount of clean water (not including tea and coffee) should be 1.5 liters per day.
• It is very useful to revise your diet, excluding fatty, smoked and other unhealthy foods from it. It is also worth refusing to eat excessively mayonnaise, ketchup, and confectionery.
• Adding fresh vegetables and fruits to the diet has a positive effect on the digestion of a pregnant woman.
• Walking in the morning and evening for 20-30 minutes in the fresh air is mandatory. The room must always be ventilated to exclude hypoxia!
• Eliminate stress and unnecessary worries from your life.

You can also ease the symptoms of toxicosis with folk remedies, while it is important to "know when to stop."

For example, herbal teas (with lemon balm, nettle) can eliminate morning sickness. Aromatic oils of chamomile, mint will help to overcome attacks of toxicosis. A slice of fresh lemon or a slice of pineapple will also ease morning symptoms. You can not only eat such teas and fruits, but also just keep them close at hand so that in case of ailments you can simply breathe in their aroma.

The attending physician, in addition to general recommendations and prescriptions, must start the complex treatment of toxicosis on time. With a mild degree of illness, preventive measures usually help, but if the quality of life of a pregnant woman has seriously decreased, it is necessary to prescribe medications.

Therapy of toxicosis is mainly aimed at improving metabolic processes, reducing intoxication and normalizing the general condition of patients. Thus, basically all drugs will affect the liver, kidneys and gastrointestinal system. Medicines, in contraindications to which there is no pregnancy, are based on herbal components, the action of which, among other things, improves tissue trophism and placental blood flow. Do not neglect their reception! Properly selected therapy will not only help eliminate the signs of toxicosis, but also reduce the risk of late complications of pregnancy and childbirth.

The stronger the manifestations of toxicosis, the more targeted its therapy should be. In late pregnancy, the best treatment option would be intravenous administration of a complex of drugs and daily monitoring of the child's condition. Finding pregnant women in the hospital is the optimal solution for gestosis, the guarantor of the provision of timely medical care.

Hofitol for the treatment of symptoms of toxicosis

Hofitol is a modern herbal preparation, often prescribed to pregnant women at the beginning and at the end of pregnancy for the treatment and prevention of toxicosis.

It is based on an aqueous extract of the herb of the field artichoke and vitamins B, C, inulin and carotene. This is a safe drug that does not have any effect on the fetus, the reception of which will improve metabolic processes in tissues and organs.

Indications for the use of Hofitol are quite extensive:

• liver diseases - chronic hepatitis, hepatosis, cirrhosis;
• dyskinesia of the choleretic ducts;
• diseases of the excretory system - chronic renal failure, nephritis;
• atherosclerosis of the vascular wall;
• acetonemia;
• chronic intoxication of the body.

Based on the list of indications, Hofitol is prescribed as a drug for complex therapy. It significantly relieves the liver, has a diuretic effect, and normalizes the work of the biliary tract. Thus, the intoxication of the body decreases, the removal of excess water from the cells is facilitated, which means that the body is cleansed, which leads to the elimination of most symptoms of toxicosis, a decrease in fetal hypoxia, and an improvement in the supply of nutrients to it.

Based on this, gynecologists often prescribe Hofitol as a prophylactic agent. Do not panic, this drug will not harm a developing child. As an additional drug, it will improve placental blood flow and tissue trophism, which will have a positive effect on the physiological development of the baby.

When symptoms of toxicosis and gestosis are detected, the appointment of Hofitol is justified by the good dynamics of its use in pregnant women. It relieves the organs of the digestive and excretory systems, helping the body to quickly adapt to a new state. Moreover, its use improves the condition of the vascular wall, which leads to an optimal supply of nutrients to tissue cells and increases the percentage of their assimilation by the body. In late pregnancy, tissue edema decreases, the excretion of protein in the urine is normalized, and, therefore, blood pressure drops to normal levels, and headaches stop.

Essentiale in the complex therapy of toxicosis

Essentiale has proven itself well. Its action is directed entirely to the liver: it restores the structure of hepatocytes and stimulates their work, prevents the formation of connective tissue. Essentiale easily copes with the intoxication of the body, regulating the functioning of the liver, and improves lipid and carbohydrate metabolism.

Taking it during pregnancy will not only significantly reduce the symptoms of toxicosis in the body, but also optimize the placental blood flow. Also, the phospholipids that are part of Essentiale have a beneficial effect on the metabolism in a woman's body, which undoubtedly benefits the baby growing in her belly. The preparation contains herbal ingredients that are absolutely safe for a pregnant woman and her baby. The phenomena of intolerance are very rarely possible: there is an increase in dyspeptic disorders.

Reception of Essentiale during pregnancy is necessary on the recommendation of a doctor. Only a specialist can choose the correct dosage and method of application of the drug.

Cerucal for symptoms of toxicosis

The drug Cerucal has a pronounced antiemetic and anti-nmetic effect, it is a chemical agent. The mechanism of its work is simple: it blocks signals from the receptors of the gastric mucosa, the vomiting centers in the brain do not react, and the food masses continue to be digested, entering the intestines. This is an excellent remedy for exhaustion of the body and inability to absorb food.

The use of Cerucal during pregnancy should be justified, in strict agreement with the attending physician, since by blocking receptor signals, it simultaneously stimulates the muscle activity of the digestive system. The activation of intestinal muscle tone can be transmitted to the wall of the uterus, which will lead to its contractions and expulsion of the fetus. Cerucal should be taken with caution in the first 12-14 weeks of pregnancy, then taking it becomes much safer due to the reduced risk of spontaneous termination of pregnancy.

But it should be borne in mind that by stimulating the work of the gastrointestinal tract, Cerucal promotes excessive accumulation of salts and water in the body. In the presence of gestosis in late pregnancy, it is better to use another drug with a similar effect.

Enterosgel for getting rid of toxicosis

It is called a remedy for all diseases, this, of course, is not entirely true, but there is always a certain benefit from Enterosgel. It is a very well-proven enterosorbent based on methylsilicic acid. This drug does not stay in the body, but quickly moves along the digestive tract, absorbing and carrying with it a huge number of toxic substances, pathogenic microorganisms and their metabolic products. The positive properties of Enterosgel include:

• elimination of toxins,
• elimination of the processes of decay and gas formation,
• stimulation of muscle activity of the intestines,
• activation of parietal digestion,
• cleansing from pathogenic microorganisms,
• positive effect on the functioning of the liver and kidneys,
• cleansing the intestinal mucosa and preventing ulceration.

Taking Enterosgel during pregnancy significantly reduces the manifestations of toxicosis, normalizes the digestive system, and improves the general condition of the body. The drug does not enter the bloodstream, so it is absolutely safe for the intrauterine development of the child. The only negative property of Enterosgel is the possibility of constipation in the first 1-3 days of administration, which is easily eliminated. Please consult your doctor.

Pregnancy is a process of restructuring the body, for the successful development of which outside help is often needed. Many unpleasant moments can be minimized by early preparation for this unusual condition. The purpose of the preparatory stage is to prevent pregnancy complications, which include toxicosis. It is worth taking care of prevention 3-6 months before conception, a competent specialist will help you with this. taking a complex of vitamins, balanced nutrition, correct rhythm of life, cure of chronic diseases will contribute to the successful onset of pregnancy, its physiological course and the absence of complications.

Prevention of toxicosis during pregnancy

The best prevention of toxicosis during pregnancy is considered to be the treatment of existing chronic diseases before pregnancy. When preparing to become a mother, a woman is advised to avoid physical and psychological overload, eliminate or minimize the impact of harmful external factors, get rid of bad habits, reconsider her attitude to food, making her daily diet the most nutritious, rich in vitamins and minerals.

What to do in case of toxicosis? It is known that toxicosis is most pronounced in the morning. This is due to low blood sugar levels at this time of day. To prevent bouts of nausea, you can eat some bread, dried fruit, a few crackers, or drink a cup of mint tea, lightly sweetened, before getting up. After a light breakfast in bed, the woman's blood glucose level rises, which helps to avoid the morning deterioration of well-being. From drinks, you can choose the one that you like the most to taste. It can be water, soft drinks, tea, vegetable broth. Juicy fruits can replace water: melon, grapes. Occasionally you can afford to eat ice cream.

How to eat properly in case of toxicosis? Fans of spicy and fatty foods will have to limit themselves in the consumption of familiar dishes. Foods that are easy to digest will help reduce the stress on the stomach: vegetables, fruits, milk and dairy products. Frequent snacks help to get rid of constant nausea with toxicosis of pregnant women: it is necessary to ensure that the stomach does not idle. After a hearty lunch or dinner, you should not go to rest. Of the products that relieve nausea, honey helps well: one spoonful of honey should be slowly absorbed in the mouth if you feel unwell.

What is important to remember in case of toxicosis? Timely medical attention helps to avoid complications and relieve the main symptoms. Constant weight control during early pregnancy is also important. A sudden drop or increase in weight indicates serious complications and requires urgent medical attention. The doctor can diagnose "early toxicosis" by examining the patient's complaints and conducting an additional examination in order to exclude pre-existing diseases with similar symptoms. No matter how toxicosis proceeds, every effort must be made to maintain pregnancy, since there is a high likelihood of repeated toxicosis, the course of which will be even more severe.

The author of the article: Lapikova Valentina Vladimirovna | Gynecologist, reproductologist

Education: Diploma in Obstetrics and Gynecology received at the Russian State Medical University of the Federal Agency for Healthcare and Social Development (2010). In 2013 completed postgraduate studies at N. N. N. I. Pirogova.