Toxicosis in pregnant women or how to survive all the horrors of the 1st trimester?

Cases where toxicosis intensifies in the evening are not exceptional. Most often, such a manifestation occurs if the expectant mother leads an incorrect lifestyle.

It often happens that the modern rhythm of life does not allow us to allocate 30-40 minutes for a full lunch. In this case, evening toxicosis is a consequence of loss of strength due to fasting.


Toxicosis as the first sign of pregnancy?

Evening toxicosis is no less unpleasant than morning toxicosis; such a manifestation interferes with a full night's rest. However, there are women who are even less fortunate, suffering from toxicosis throughout the day.

What is toxicosis?


What can darken happiness?

Toxicosis is a fairly common disorder, affecting approximately 2/3 of the total number of pregnant women. This condition is accompanied by vomiting and nausea.

Expert opinions on the question of why toxicosis develops during pregnancy vary:

  • the cause of toxicosis is significant changes in hormonal levels in the body of a pregnant woman;
  • poisoning occurs with toxins formed in the body of a pregnant woman during the development of the fetus.

Pregnant women want to know everything about toxicosis; when considering such a disorder, it should be mentioned that it can manifest itself with varying intensity:

Degrees of manifestation of toxicosis
DegreeDescription
FirstVomiting occurs no more than 5 times a day; in the first 6-10 weeks, a pregnant woman loses no more than 3 kg.
SecondFrequent vomiting is observed - up to 10 times a day. Significant weight loss is observed. Over a period of three weeks, the girl loses about 3-4 kg. This condition is dangerous; a violation can cause a significant decrease in blood pressure.
ThirdVomiting occurs frequently; the provocateur can be not only food intake, but also contact with other irritants, for example, inhalation of various odors. The frequency of vomiting reaches 25 times during the day. In this case, an increase in body temperature may be observed, and the woman’s pulse quickens. There is a noticeable weight loss - more than 10 kg.

Important! Women claim that toxicosis appears immediately in the first days after conception, but this is absolutely not true. The first symptoms of such a disorder may be noticeable no earlier than 10 days after ovulation.


When does toxicosis appear?

Hospitalization may be required for second and third degree toxicosis. The girl will be able to cope with mild toxicosis on her own. Your doctor will tell you how to do this. The instructions given by the specialist must be strictly followed.

In severe cases, when toxicosis manifests itself extremely intensely, and a high price is at stake - the woman’s life - experts may recommend terminating the pregnancy at an early stage. The reason for this may be a significant decrease in blood pressure, significant disturbances in kidney function, and increased heart rate.

About toxicosis.

What is the cause of toxicosis

None of the scientists can still say with certainty what the cause of toxicosis is.
The most common theory states that morning sickness is the result of hormonal changes in a woman’s body. However, there are other patterns that are known today. Toxicosis often occurs in women who did not eat properly before pregnancy. This condition is also aggravated by emotional factors. Too unexpected news about pregnancy, family quarrels or difficulties in relationships with a partner - all this can cause toxicosis. There is an opinion that early toxicosis is associated with the state of the gastrointestinal tract, in particular, a violation of the detoxification (neutralizing) ability of the liver. Some scientists believe that nausea and vomiting are even beneficial for pregnant women, as they help the body of the mother and child to protect themselves from harmful microorganisms and toxic substances, and supposedly toxicosis protects the baby from damage and the woman from miscarriage. It should be noted that toxicosis is practically not experienced by women living in non-industrial areas. Many of them do not know that nausea and vomiting occur during pregnancy. This statement also applies to the primitive tribes of Africa and the inhabitants of the rural areas of central Russia. It is known that women with a desired pregnancy are less likely to experience nausea than those whose pregnancy was unexpected. When a woman lives in conditions close to natural nature, then:
- she experiences a lower level of stress;
- her body is less exposed to harmful substances from the outside due to the environmentally friendly environment; - she is less at risk of miscarriage; - and her child is highly guaranteed to be born healthy. In general, living close to nature is in itself a prevention of toxicosis. A pregnant woman's body does not need to protect itself from harmful environmental influences or stress. This partly explains: the phenomena of severe toxicosis quickly disappear in the calm environment of the clinic and reappear upon returning to normal living conditions. When to Expect Morning Sickness
Morning sickness usually begins about six weeks after the start of your last menstrual period.
For women with irregular menstruation, toxicosis can be the first sign of pregnancy. The symptoms of early toxicosis are well known - loss of appetite, drooling, nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, reaction to odors that did not irritate you before.
Nausea attacks usually occur in the morning, but can last throughout the day. Such attacks usually end by 14-16 weeks.

Bad advice If you start to worry that your toxicosis has disappeared... You have a lot of options to make sure otherwise. At the first opportunity, go to a public toilet or smoking room. Toxicosis in the first trimester is the main cause of decreased or lack of appetite in a woman. The mother’s body demands to stop eating, and medications most often cannot help. Much more effective is an individual diet, which will be selected by an observing doctor or you yourself will intuitively and by trial and error determine the most optimal set of products for you. In addition, the expectant mother should rest more, limit physical activity and fill her life with positive emotions. What to do if you feel nauseous?

Try one or more of the suggested recommendations.
After waking up, have a snack in bed
.
In the evening, prepare juice or mineral water and crackers and place them next to your bed. In the morning, without getting out of bed, eat your breakfast. Raisins or dried apricots, a dry cracker or a small sandwich with cheese are also suitable. Ask your family to bring you warm tea in bed. Starting the digestion process will help remove excess acid from your stomach and prevent nausea. Get out of bed slowly.
Sudden movements can cause nausea.
Include
dairy products (kefir, cheese) and eggs in your first breakfast.
If you are drooling,
you can rinse your mouth with an infusion of chamomile, mint or sage.
Ventilate the premises.
You need fresh air now more than ever.
In stuffy rooms, attacks of nausea worsen. Open the windows as often as possible, especially in the bedroom - before going to bed. If you live in a city and your windows face a polluted street, your home should have air conditioning... and lots of green flowers. And take yourself and your future baby for walks in the fresh air more often. Eat when you want and what you want.
Take food at least every three hours, in small portions.
You can afford to frequently snack on salted crackers, nuts, and dried fruits. Sometimes pickles and sauerkraut help. In other cases, lollipops and sucking candies are helpful. In the first half of pregnancy, it is useful to follow the desires of your body. In case of early toxicosis, it is recommended to take food at room temperature, that is, not too cold or hot. Eliminate fatty foods from your diet
and include more carbohydrates.
Avoid all unpleasant foods and odors.
The smells that make you sick can be anything - perfume, cosmetics, kitchen.
Some mothers experience a toxic reaction even to a certain type of toothpaste. All this must be excluded. Don't wash down your food. Avoid soups containing fatty meat broth.
You can easily switch to vegetarian soups in small quantities or cook them with dietary meat (beef, rabbit, chicken, hazel grouse).
After eating, maintain an upright body position.
In a sitting or lying position, food does not pass down, but is thrown “up”, which often causes an attack of nausea.
Drink enough fluids between meals.
Fruit juice and drinks are easy to digest and replenish the body's need for carbohydrates.
It is better to drink honey-lemon infusion: add 1-2 teaspoons of honey and lemon juice to a glass of warm or cool water. Drink it 3-4 times a day. Overall, listen to your body. Mint is one of the folk remedies for toxicosis.
Take 1 tablespoon of mint and wash it down with 2 glasses of boiling water, let it brew. Drink the resulting drink several times a day, 1/2 cup. Toxicosis is not always associated only with the sight or smell of food.
You may begin to feel sick from exhaust fumes when you are traveling on a bus or car, in the subway - from the stuffiness and abundance of people, the smell of paint or other products used in repairs, and even from the smell of candle wax. However, if toxicity continues for a long time, you should not eat only those foods that do not disgust you. A monotonous menu does not have a very good effect on both your body and your child’s body.
After all, it is in the first trimester of pregnancy that all its systems and organs are formed, and this requires nutrients, vitamins and minerals, which can only be obtained from a variety of foods. Of course, you shouldn’t forcefully pour a liter of milk into yourself every day when you can’t hear the very phrase “cow’s milk” without nervous shudders.
Take steps to relieve your discomfort. You can consult your doctor; perhaps he will prescribe special medications for you. It is not useless to turn to homeopathic or folk remedies in such a state. It is quite possible that the smell of mint in a handkerchief that you will always carry with you, or fresh tangerine peels will help you. Toxicosis with vomiting
Toxicosis is an unpleasant phenomenon, but not very dangerous, unless you are constantly vomiting.
The main danger is that a woman loses fluid, depriving herself and the unborn child of valuable nutrients. In addition, physical condition worsens and weakness appears. Vomiting early in pregnancy will not negatively affect your baby's birth weight. If you have a poor appetite, try to snack whenever possible. If you leave home, take light food with you such as dried fruits, crackers or croutons. Drink enough fluids to avoid dehydration. Eat high-carbohydrate meals to maintain energy balance, as well as vegetables and fresh fruits. In some women, vomiting occurs several times a day and is accompanied by a decrease in appetite, changes in taste and smell, a feeling of weakness, and weight loss. Such manifestations already refer to toxicosis in the first half of pregnancy. There are three degrees of toxicosis
.
Mild degree.
Vomiting occurs up to 4-5 times a day and is accompanied by slight weight loss.
In this case, a woman can be treated at home, under the supervision of a doctor, following a diet and rest regime. Moderate degree.
Vomiting occurs up to 10 times a day and is often accompanied by excessive salivation and deterioration of the general condition.
The woman experiences weakness and apathy. Noticeable changes occur in the body: weight loss, body temperature rises, pulse quickens, blood pressure decreases, protein appears in urine analysis. The skin becomes pale, a white coating appears on the tongue. In this case, hospitalization is necessary. High degree.
This form is extremely rare, and is characterized by dysfunction of vital organs and systems.
Food and liquid are not retained in the body, vomiting occurs up to 20 times a day. Weight loss reaches 2-3 kg per week, intense dehydration occurs. This type of toxicosis is treated in a hospital. Be sure to tell your doctor about your condition in the following cases: - if vomiting occurs more than twice a day; - if nausea and vomiting continue after the 14th week of pregnancy; - if you are losing weight quickly. Late toxicosis - gestosis
Preeclampsia is a complication of the second half of pregnancy, in which the function of important organs, especially the cardiovascular system, is disrupted.
Preeclampsia is characterized by persistent swelling in the last 3-4 months of pregnancy. First of all, the legs and hands swell. More serious symptoms are increased blood pressure and the appearance of protein in the urine. If your blood pressure has increased, you have a headache, heaviness in the back of your head, spots flashing before your eyes, nausea, pain in the upper abdomen, you should immediately consult a doctor. In order to diagnose gestosis in a timely manner, it is necessary to regularly: - weigh yourself; — measure blood pressure; - take urine and blood tests. Treatment is carried out in a hospital. The woman is prescribed sedatives, diuretics, as well as medications that lower blood pressure and improve blood flow. For gestosis, limit salt intake to 3 g per day and fluid intake to one liter. The expectant mother is recommended to eat a vegetable-dairy diet; it is necessary to eat foods containing large amounts of potassium (raisins, grapes, melons, figs). A collection of white birch leaves, horsetail grass, berries and lingonberry leaves in a ratio of 2:1:1:1 helps the expectant mother with gestosis. Pour two tablespoons of the mixture into 400 ml of boiling water, leave for an hour, and strain. Drink 3 glasses 3 times a day for 30-40 minutes!' before meals in case of late toxicosis and the presence of edema. Preeclampsia is gestosis of the third degree of severity
. This complication of pregnancy contributes to the occurrence of damage to the brain, retina, liver, the development of one or more convulsive seizures in the woman and/or fetus (actually “eclampsia”), and impaired renal function. Preeclampsia, eclampsia is a mandatory medical indication for emergency termination of pregnancy due to a threat to the woman’s life.

How can toxicosis affect the development of the fetus?


When toxicosis can be dangerous.

How toxicosis affects the fetus - the degree of impact of such a disorder on the process of fetal development directly depends on the intensity of the manifestation of such a symptom.

The manifestation of such a disorder exclusively in the first trimester is considered normal. Of course, a pregnant woman loses some weight and does not receive enough necessary vitamins, but such a deficiency can be fully compensated for at a later date.

Attention! Preeclampsia - late toxicosis of pregnant women - is extremely dangerous.

If toxicosis constantly bothers a woman during the day, and she experiences frequent vomiting, the development of anemia, which provokes the development of various fetal anomalies, cannot be ruled out.


When hospitalization is required.

Third degree toxicosis not only negatively affects the growth and development of the fetus, but also the woman’s condition in general. In this case, the treatment method is worked out by a doctor, therapy is carried out in a hospital setting - urgent hospitalization of the woman is required.

Symptomatic therapy is carried out; the pregnant woman is recommended to take vitamin complexes. In some cases, it is not possible to maintain a pregnancy accompanied by severe toxicosis.

The video in this article will tell you why toxicosis can be dangerous?

Main types of toxicosis


Evening toxicosis: what are the causes?

The main types of toxicosis, recorded and not recorded in sources used in traditional medicine, are discussed in the table:

Types of toxicosis

View

Description

Staphylococcal toxicosisIt is the result of the activity of enterotoxigenic strains. The woman needs urgent consultation with a specialist; treatment takes place in a hospital setting.
Toxicosis in the afternoon or eveningThe body succumbs to the “attack” of toxicosis after a grueling day of work. The risk of negative symptoms increases when a woman does not consume enough nutritious food. Freshly squeezed cranberry juice, a glass of tea with lemon and a full dinner will help eliminate its manifestation. Avoid eating fatty foods at night.
Late toxicosisThis condition is dangerous and poses a threat to a woman’s life. Normally, toxicosis in the second and third trimester does not bother a woman. The phenomenon that appears at this time is called gestosis, the symptoms of which boil down to:
  • Significant weight gain - more than 400 grams per week.
  • The manifestation of swelling, localized in the face and lower extremities.
  • Presence of protein in urine.
  • Increased blood pressure, its sharp fluctuations.

Treatment is selected exclusively on an individual basis. In any case, hospitalization is required, which should not be refused.

First trimester toxicosisThe most common phenomenon, occurring in 70% of women.
Its symptoms normally disappear completely by 14 weeks. Many traditional medicine methods help reduce the intensity of symptoms, but herbal remedies can only be used after consultation with a gynecologist.
Toxicosis before delayDid the nausea appear 2-3 days after the expected conception? Traditional medicine will say that this is impossible. The fact is that at this time no significant changes occur in the woman’s body, so you should look for another reason for poor health.


After 12-14 weeks, all discomfort in most women goes away

Attention! What is the reason for the disappearance of toxicosis after 14 weeks? The fact is that it is by this time that the placenta completes its formation and helps the female body protect itself from toxic compounds. Until this time, the body protects itself by vomiting.

It should be noted that women who follow the basic rules of a healthy lifestyle and do not have serious chronic diseases experience manifestations of toxicosis much less frequently.

Can toxicosis have individual differences in different women?

Of course. However, if you suffer from very intense morning sickness, the reason may be hidden in:

  • The presence of multiple pregnancies - twins, triplets or more. Due to the development of a large number of fetuses, your body will produce more hCG, estrogen and other hormones. All this can provoke more severe manifestations of toxicosis. But this rule is not confirmed in all cases - some women experience virtually no illness while carrying twins, or they have no toxicosis at all.
  • Tendency to frequent headaches and migraines.
  • Pregnancy with a girl. According to research, in 55% of cases, women who had severe toxicosis during pregnancy became mothers of girls.

Can toxicosis affect a child?

Mild to moderate nausea with occasional vomiting will not affect your baby's development. Even if morning sickness prevents you from gaining the required amount of weight in the first trimester, this is usually not a problem. The main thing is that your body does not experience dehydration and, despite vomiting, receives the necessary nutrients. After the morning sickness of the first trimester, your appetite will definitely return and you will begin to gain weight.

Malaise in pregnant women

If morning sickness prevents you from eating a balanced diet, be sure to take prenatal vitamins. They will help you maintain healthy levels of nutrients in your body.

But if you are faced with very severe and intense attacks of vomiting, then in this case there is indeed a reason for alarm. This reaction of the mother's body to the child can cause premature birth and the birth of a low-weight baby.

But if during your entire pregnancy you still manage to gain at least 7 kg, with a high probability you will be able to carry your baby to the planned due date, and he will be born absolutely healthy.

How to prevent toxicosis?


How to improve a woman's condition without using medications?

The main methods for preventing toxicosis are discussed in the table:

Measures to reduce the risk of toxicosis
RuleDescriptionCharacteristic photo
Regular walks in the fresh airWalking in the fresh air will have a positive effect on a woman’s well-being. You need to walk at least 2-3 hours a day. In winter, this period can be reduced to 1 hour in the fresh air, but you should not give up walking.


Walking in the fresh air.

Slow food intakeYou need to consume food slowly and in small portions. In this case, the woman will be able to avoid nausea after lunch.


Fractional meals.

A leisurely awakeningIf toxicosis is tormenting, right in the morning, you should not get out of bed suddenly. It is better to do light gymnastics in a lying position.


Morning awakening.

Refusal to eat certain foodsDespite new gastronomic preferences, a woman should avoid eating salty, spicy and fatty foods.


It is important to eliminate unhealthy foods from your diet.

Breathing exercisesLight breathing exercises performed at least once a day will help cope with toxicosis. A visit to the pool will be beneficial - if there are no contraindications.


Breathing exercises are recommended to be performed in the fresh air.

Positive moodPsychologists say that a positive mood and thoughts about the imminent birth of a baby will help you cope with toxicosis more easily.


A good mood is the key to excellent health.

You can endure a lot for the sake of having a baby, and toxicosis is no exception. Experts will help you endure it. It is a good idea to consult a nutritionist. A specialist will help you create the right diet that will not harm a woman’s body.

Morning sickness: how to fight it with 6 rules


Morning sickness: how to fight it with 6 rules

Toxicosis can manifest itself in different ways. Firstly, for some women it can last only in the first month, for others the entire trimester, there are those for whom the entire pregnancy is very difficult. Yes, there are also pregnant women who do not even know what toxicosis is. Let's consider them lucky.

Toxicosis occurs in different variants. From the mildest nausea in the morning to severe vomiting, when you can’t even move far from the toilet. But you can overcome all this and then enjoy motherhood.

How to get rid of morning sickness?

Morning sickness photo


Morning sickness: how to fight it with 6 rules

The first thing doctors recommend is to monitor what, when and how much you eat. Since toxicosis can often be a consequence of severe overeating during dinner or eating at night; due to the consumption of foods that are prohibited for pregnant women, etc.

It is better that you go to bed with a slight feeling of hunger. Then you won’t feel sick first thing in the morning.

Second, take enough vitamins. Often pregnant women “sin” with food, eating all the unhealthy foods - fast foods, smoked foods, etc., while neglecting vegetables, fruits, healthy boiled meat and protein. And even with such a harmful diet, pregnant women often do not take additional vitamin complexes, which help normalize the amount of vitamins A, B, C, E and others. From here, doctors explain, toxicosis often occurs.

Third, do not provoke toxicosis yourself. Even if you want to pamper your husband with a delicious dish in the morning, this is not a reason to go and cook it, despite your health. It’s better to go into the kitchen less often, avoid places where there are strong odors of fresh food or other substances that you cannot stand.

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