Undoubtedly, for the vast majority of women, pregnancy is a wonderful and long-awaited condition. Unfortunately, there are many factors that can overshadow it. One of the most common is toxicosis in late pregnancy. What is it and what is the danger?
Definition
Toxicosis in late pregnancy or, as it is also called, gestosis is a complication that can occur in the third trimester. It is characterized by severe disorders in the vascular system of the body, as well as in vital internal organs. In this case, the woman feels unpleasant symptoms.
How long can late toxicosis occur? Most often, such deviations occur after 18-20 weeks. How long can late toxicosis during pregnancy be detected? They can be diagnosed only after 26 weeks of gestation, which significantly worsens the prognosis.
Causes of occurrence
There are a large number of theories why gestosis can occur. Despite this, reliable causes of toxicosis in late pregnancy have not been identified. Moreover, there are a large number of factors that can provoke the development of this condition. These include the following causes:
- disturbances in the work of the cardiovascular system;
- the presence of excess weight;
- frequent stressful situations during gestation;
- impaired renal function;
- disorders of the liver and gallbladder;
- some diseases of the endocrine system, in particular, the thyroid gland;
- stay of the future mother in a state of alcohol or drug intoxication;
- individual allergic reactions;
- malfunctions of the immune system.
Pregnancy is a period during which you need to more carefully monitor your own health in order not to miss the onset of the development of any disease and stop it in a timely manner. Otherwise, complications, such as late toxicosis or gestosis, may develop.
Who is at risk
Unfortunately, about 20% of all pregnant women experience late-stage toxicosis. At the same time, there are such risk factors in which a woman may face this nuisance:
- multiple pregnancy;
- frequent occurrence of stressful situations;
- first pregnancy, especially before the age of 18 years or after 35;
- chronic fatigue;
- a short period after a previous pregnancy;
- a history of abortion;
- adverse living and food conditions;
- the presence of chronic infectious diseases;
- lack of qualified treatment for inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system;
- infantilism (underdevelopment) of the internal genital organs.
Also common causes of late toxicosis can be considered smoking and drinking alcohol while carrying a child.
Effects
Gestosis is a rather unpleasant complication of a normal pregnancy, which can have serious consequences, including infant or maternal mortality. What is toxic toxicity in the late stages of? For a woman, this condition is dangerous for several of the following reasons:
- A disorder of one or more internal organs, including the organs of vision, may occur.
- Impaired blood microcirculation in the brain.
- The formation of blood clots in the brain. They, in turn, can provoke the development of edema of the brain or lungs. Also, the condition is dangerous with sudden hemorrhage in the brain.
- Dehydration on the background of vomiting, which can occur with gestosis. Such vomiting can be quite difficult to relieve.
- Premature partial or complete detachment of the placenta, which is dangerous not only for the mother, but also for the baby.
- Premature birth.
- Asphyxia of the fetus.
A baby born may have such unpleasant complications:
- Intrauterine oxygen starvation may lead to physical or mental underdevelopment in the future.
- Low birth weight.
- Soreness throughout life, especially in childhood.
A woman who has toxicosis in late pregnancy needs constant medical support.
Symptoms
A pregnant woman who is in a state of gestosis feels rather bad. Common symptoms of toxicosis in later pregnancy include the following:
- At the first stage of development of gestosis, dropsy of pregnant women is observed. This designation refers to a condition in which a woman experiences severe edema. Especially characteristic they develop in the limbs. At the same time, a woman cannot wear rings, and when the fingers are bent and extended, numbness and soreness are felt. Fortunately, edema does not always indicate toxicosis, but they are the reason for a more thorough diagnosis of this condition.
- The second degree of development of gestosis is characterized by nephropathy - impaired renal function. In this condition, a pregnant woman often experiences significant pressure surges, which can even lead to partial or complete detachment of the placenta.
- The third stage of the development of the condition is preeclampsia, which is accompanied by severe disorders in many internal organs. In this case, the woman experiences symptoms such as headache, which gives heaviness in the back of the head, uncontrollable vomiting, nausea, visual disturbances, smell, memory lapses, very high blood pressure, drowsiness, irritability.
- The fourth or terminal stage of gestosis is called eclampsia. With this anomaly, fetal oxygen starvation develops, a heart attack, stroke, severe pulmonary edema, and convulsions can occur. Often this condition leads to complete detachment of the placenta, premature labor or intrauterine death of the fetus.
Any symptoms of toxicosis in late pregnancy require emergency medical attention.
Diagnostics
Throughout pregnancy, a woman often visits a gynecologist, who carefully monitors her condition and development of the fetus. Knowing what toxicosis is dangerous in late pregnancy, the task of an experienced gynecologist is to recognize unwanted symptoms, as well as timely diagnosis of a pathological condition, the appointment of a competent and effective treatment. If there is a suspicion of preeclampsia, a pregnant woman should undergo a number of such examinations:
- blood pressure measurement;
- weight control;
- monitoring the amount of fluid drunk per day;
- Ultrasound of the kidneys and adrenal glands;
- general and biochemical blood analysis;
- urine analysis for protein.
In addition, the expectant mother may need to consult an ophthalmologist for eye examination, as well as a nephrologist and a neurologist.
Drug treatment
How long can late toxicosis begin? Most often, this pathological condition is diagnosed later than the 26th week of gestation. For this reason, treatment should be started immediately after diagnosis. During pregnancy, a large number of medications are prohibited, because they can harm the baby. However, in this case, some of them are a necessity. Most often, the following medication is prescribed:
- With increased irritability of the pregnant woman, it is recommended to take light plant-based sedatives. It can be infusions of valerian, motherwort. In severe cases, there is a need for the appointment of antipsychotics.
- With pronounced swelling of the body and limbs of a woman, she is invited to take diuretics. The dosage and the drug are selected individually.
- The use of antioxidants such as vitamins C, E is also indicated.
- Medicines may be prescribed to normalize the rheological parameters of the blood.
In some cases, specific drugs may be prescribed to support the functions of vital organs.
General principles of treatment
In the vast majority of cases, a pregnant woman is shown to be in a hospital so that doctors have the opportunity to monitor the condition of the future mother and child. At the same time, the following measures are recommended:
- bed rest;
- measuring blood pressure about 6 times a day;
- body weight control, which is recommended to be performed 1 time in 4-5 days;
- compliance with the drinking regime;
- monitoring the presence of protein in the urine.
Also, a pregnant woman needs to get advice from a gynecologist to check the condition of the baby in the womb. With the stabilization of the condition, we can talk about premature delivery under the supervision of doctors.
Diet
Diet for pregnant women should also be special. During this period, it is important to consume a large number of vitamin and healthy foods. The diet of a woman with toxicosis in the late stages must necessarily include dietary meat, steamed or boiled, fish, vegetables and fruits, rich in vitamin B, C, E. It is also impossible to limit the expectant mother in the amount of liquid, even with pronounced swelling. Food should be balanced, with a predominance of protein rather than carbohydrate products.
Prevention
Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely prevent the development of symptoms of late toxicosis. This is due to the fact that it is not known exactly the reasons that cause it. However, the woman has the power to reduce the number of prerequisites, due to which gestosis can be expected to occur. Prevention of this condition is as follows:
- At the stage of pregnancy planning, you need to visit a gynecologist, as well as undergo a full examination to timely detect diseases of the internal organs. If available, you need to undergo a full course of treatment, and then plan the birth of a child.
- It is important to give up such bad habits as smoking or drinking alcohol when planning a child.
- Set the regime of the day, get enough sleep.
- If the work involves a lot of stressful situations, then it is recommended to change it.
- It is also very important to create a favorable psychological background within the family.
- Establish a diet, as well as diversify the diet as much as possible.
- Every day, spend some time outdoors.
- It is noted that moderate exercise, yoga or swimming are useful for strengthening the body.
In addition, it is very important during pregnancy not to neglect scheduled visits to the gynecologist, as well as all sorts of necessary laboratory tests that are important for monitoring the development of the fetus.
Forecast
Fortunately, modern medicine is now at the level at which it is possible to provide qualified help to expectant mothers. For this reason, infant and maternal mortality also decreased significantly. The prognosis for gestosis in late pregnancy is most often positive, however, provided that the expectant mother complies with all the prescriptions of doctors.
In addition, possible complications during pregnancy and after childbirth are also determined by the period at which late gestosis was detected, and the expectant mother began adequate treatment.
Conclusion
Late toxicosis during pregnancy is a fairly common occurrence. It has been studied enough, so experienced doctors know all the mechanisms for its treatment and maintaining the mother and baby in the womb in good condition. However, a favorable outcome most often depends largely on the mother, since it is the woman who must comply with all the prescriptions of doctors and their recommendations.