Toxicosis in early pregnancy: causes, treatments and diet

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

All vital organs and systems of a child are formed in the first trimester of pregnancy, but it is this period that almost every second expectant mother is accompanied by toxicosis. Many consider pregnancy morning sickness, vomiting, and sensitivity to smells to be normal, but it is actually pathological.

Main causes of toxicosis

The exact causes of toxicosis in pregnant women have not been established by modern science, but there are several hypotheses. The most reasonable and popular in the medical community is neuro-reflex. According to this theory, disturbances in the interaction between the central nervous system and the internal organs of the future mother play an important role in the development of pathology.

During childbearing, many women become whiny, irritable and capricious. This is due to the activation of the subcortical structures of the brain, which form protective reflexes. So nature naturally protects pregnancy. In the same structures of the brain is the vomiting center, olfactory zones and cells that "control" salivaryglands, heart, vessels, lungs and stomach. Therefore, attacks of toxicosis in the early stages may be preceded by deeper breathing and increased heart rate, salivation, pallor.

Another theory explaining the appearance of signs of toxicosis is immune. From the first days of intrauterine life, the embryo differs in antigenic composition from the mother's body. Because of this, a pregnant woman may begin to produce antibodies that provoke toxicosis. In addition, some doctors explain the unfavorable condition of the expectant mother in the early stages of significant hormonal changes. A new organ is formed in the body - the placenta, which produces hormones. To this, the internal organs of a woman and the nervous system react with symptoms of toxicosis. A similar conclusion can be drawn from the fact that in some pregnant women, the onset of toxicosis coincides in time with the peak of hCG.

Some gynecologists and psychotherapists working with pregnant women are of the opinion that toxicosis in the early stages can be caused by the negative emotions of the expectant mother, the process of realizing her new condition, worries, fear of having a baby. For the same reason, severe toxicosis may begin in the third trimester. The role of self-hypnosis is also important, because almost all women who find out about their pregnancy involuntarily set themselves up for the fact that this condition in the vast majority is accompanied by nausea and vomiting.

The cause of toxicosis in early pregnancy is the age of the expectant mother. After30-35 years of pregnancy can be dangerous, especially if this is the first conception or there have been numerous abortions in the past. Toxicosis in women who become pregnant at a more mature age may be more pronounced than in young mothers. Affects the condition and multiple pregnancy. With twins, toxicosis in the early stages appears much more often than with a singleton pregnancy.

Risk factors

It is safe to say that a he althy woman is much less prone to the appearance of symptoms of toxicosis than an expectant mother who has chronic diseases, untreated infections and bad habits. More often, nausea and vomiting accompany the first trimester of childbearing in women with diseases of the thyroid gland, gastrointestinal tract and liver, and genital organs. Predispose to toxicosis in pregnant women are frequent stress, poor nutrition, asthenic body type of the expectant mother, expectation of two or more babies.

Symptoms and severity

The most common manifestation of toxicosis during early pregnancy is vomiting. Urges can occur with different frequency, it depends on the severity of the woman's condition. In the mildest case, vomiting occurs no more than five times a day, may be accompanied by long-term and short-term nausea. Vomiting can be caused by food intake, unpleasant odors, and often occurs on an empty stomach. At the same time, a woman does not lose weight or loses weight only slightly - by 1-3 kg or up to 5% of body weight. This condition is easily treatable.

In morein severe cases, vomiting can occur 10-20 times a day, accompanied by increased salivation, weakness, apathy, and a general deterioration in he alth. With frequent vomiting, dehydration occurs, blood pressure decreases, the pulse quickens, the amount of urine decreases, and the temperature may rise. Loss of body weight - up to 10% of the original (up to 8-10 kg). With such severe toxicosis in the early stages, the supply of nutrients to the fetus is disrupted.

Other signs of toxicosis include nausea, increased salivation. As a rule, the symptoms are most pronounced in the morning. However, evening toxicosis can also be observed during early pregnancy. Another unpleasant manifestation is skin rashes and itching, which can lead to depression, sleep disturbances and increased irritability.

When will toxicosis end in the first trimester? As a rule, by 12 weeks of pregnancy, all manifestations of toxicosis recede. In some cases, nausea and vomiting may persist for a longer period or characterize late pregnancy, occurring again or for the first time in the third trimester.

Types of toxicosis

In addition to the division by severity, toxicosis during pregnancy can be of the following types:

1. Staphylococcal. Caused by enterotoxigenic strains that can release an exotoxin into foods that is not destroyed by heat treatment.
2. Evening. The body undergoes toxicosis after a busy day without taking enoughthe amount of food. This condition prevents you from fully resting, falling asleep and calmly gaining strength.
3. Toxicosis in the first trimester. When toxicosis begins, every woman knows. It often occurs during pregnancy (in 65% of cases), but is considered the norm, although in fact it is an adverse reaction of the body, a pathology. Doctors recommend simply surviving this period if the manifestations of toxicosis do not significantly harm the woman's he alth. How to relieve toxicosis in the early stages? Recommendations will be given later.
4. Late toxicosis. In the normal course of pregnancy, nausea and vomiting disappear by the end of the first trimester and do not recur. But a complication called gestosis is possible. This increases the protein content in the urine, blood pressure, weight gain. Severe toxicosis in the later stages seriously threatens the he alth of both the expectant mother and the child.
5. Toxicosis before the delay. Toxicosis due to pregnancy cannot begin immediately after conception. The condition of a woman worsens only 7-10 days after the implantation of the fetal egg in the uterine cavity, and this occurs approximately 3-7 days after unprotected intercourse, which resulted in fertilization.

Duration of toxicosis

When does toxicosis begin? Doctors set the following time frames. Early toxicosis can begin in the first days of delayed menstruation or at 5-6 weeks. The earliest time when symptoms may appear is one to two weeks after implantation of the fetal egg into the uterine cavity. Here it is important to know that between implantation and sexual intercourse, as a result of whichfertilization has occurred, you can not put an equal sign. There are usually 3-7 days between these events. Nausea and vomiting stop bothering the expectant mother by 13-14 weeks, and sometimes much earlier, since each case is individual.

Diagnosis of pathology

Even with minor manifestations of toxicosis, the doctor will send the expectant mother for tests. As a rule, you need to pass a urine test, biochemistry and a general blood test. This is necessary to determine the severity of the pathology and the appropriate treatment of toxicosis in the early stages. With frequent vomiting and the unsatisfactory condition of the woman, observation in the hospital is generally indicated. A mild degree of toxicosis, which is observed everywhere, can be treated at home under the supervision of a physician. The doctor can sometimes make a diagnosis only on the basis of a patient survey.

Methods of treating toxicosis

How to relieve toxicosis in the early stages? There are many methods of treating an unpleasant condition, but not all of them are equally safe for the expectant mother and the normal course of pregnancy. Among the methods of therapy, conservative ones are used, that is, drug treatment, immunocytotherapy, homeopathic remedies, aromatherapy, acupuncture, psychotherapy (it helps if the nervous system of a pregnant woman reproduces the symptoms). The doctor will recommend that the expectant mother adhere to a special diet and change her lifestyle a little in order to effectively deal with early toxicosis in the early stages. How exactly to do it? Diet recommendations, as well as folk remedies and methods offered by traditional medicine, moreconsider further.

Drugs for nausea and vomiting

Most drugs are contraindicated for expectant mothers, but there are pills for toxicosis in early pregnancy. Harmless valerian, "No-shpa" and trace elements are used. Sometimes the appointment of a suitable vitamin-mineral complex helps to alleviate the condition. The therapy should be comprehensive, therefore, such remedies for toxicosis in the early stages as Cerucal, Enterosgel, Essentiale and others are indicated. In some cases, it is necessary to use more serious drugs that potentially threaten pregnancy. If a miscarriage can occur in the absence of therapy, then doctors prescribe such treatment.

Expectant mother's diet

How to deal with early toxicosis in the early stages? It is necessary to pay attention not only to the products that the expectant mother eats, but also to somewhat revise your eating habits. Nutrition for toxicosis in the early stages should be frequent, but in small portions. The menu needs to be varied. Vomiting is provoked by too hot or cold food, so you should eat food warm. It is better to drink tea with mint and mineral water.

If nausea and vomiting occur in the morning, it is recommended to try to have breakfast without getting out of bed. It is enough to drink a cup of warm tea, eat a couple of crackers or crackers, some fruit, a few slices of lemon. Nausea in the afternoon is most likely caused by tension and fatigue. In this case, you can drink infusions of valerian andmotherwort, soothing fees. With increased salivation, it is advisable to rinse your mouth with infusions of chamomile, sage, mint.

In the last trimester with toxicosis, you need to abandon marinades and smoked meats, pickles. But in the early stages, pickles and fish will even be useful, but only in moderation and not for women suffering from kidney disease. In the later stages, you need to use as little s alt as possible, give up herring and cucumbers. It is recommended to add dietary meat (boiled or steamed), cottage cheese, boiled fish to the diet.

At any time, nutrition should be balanced. Even with toxicosis, one cannot completely refuse food, this can further harm the condition of both the pregnant woman herself and the harmonious development of the fetus. You need to eat little by little and those foods that do not cause rejection. Dietary meat (for example, boiled fillet, steamed chicken or beef), fresh vegetables and fruits are the best.

Natural remedies for toxicosis

Here are some popular and very effective yet natural remedies that can be used to help relieve the symptoms of toxemia:

1. Ginger. Ginger tea sweetened with honey can be drunk throughout the day. Another recipe is to make a mixture of grated ginger, honey and lemon juice. To prevent nausea and vomiting, you need to use one teaspoon of the mixture at regular intervals.
2. Mint tea. One tablespoon of dried leavesmint should be poured with a glass of boiling water, let it brew for half an hour and drink. Feeling the approach of nausea, you can just chew a few leaves of fresh mint.
3. Raspberry leaf tea. In the early stages, you can drink only one cup of this tea per day, in the third trimester - 4-5 cups.
4. Fennel. Chew a teaspoon of fennel seeds after meals to prevent nausea.
5. Lemon. Sometimes just sniffing a cut lemon is enough to prevent vomiting. You can make lemonade, buy lemon candies, or just eat lemon wedges.
6. Cumin. Half a tablespoon of seeds should be added to a glass of warm water and drunk. This will help alleviate the symptoms of toxicosis during pregnancy. Another recipe: pour a tablespoon of seeds and a pinch of nutmeg with a liter of boiling water, let it brew for 5 minutes, strain the broth and drink if necessary.
7. Carnation. The spice helps improve digestion, has antiseptic properties, and prevents nausea and vomiting. To get the effect, it is enough to chew two or three clove sticks after a meal or make tea by pouring 4 things with hot water and infusing.
8. Garnet. You can eat grains or make juice. A mixture of crushed pomegranate seeds and honey will help relieve nausea.

Interestingly, Coca-Cola is very effective against toxicosis. Drinking too much of this drink is harmful, but a sip of Coca-Cola can save the expectant mother from nausea.

Aromatherapy at home

What helps with toxicosis in the early stages? aromatherapyhas a beneficial effect on the he alth of a pregnant woman. With an exacerbation of toxicosis, a few drops of mint or ginger essential oil will help. It is necessary to apply oil on the palms of your hands, rub it, bring it to your nose and inhale deeply several times. Vomiting is well eliminated by steam inhalation. It is used in the treatment of toxicosis in early pregnancy and herbal medicine.

Exercise "Crane" for nausea

This Chinese medicine exercise helps to cope with bouts of nausea and vomiting, digestive disorders. In a standing position, sitting or lying on your back, you need to actively rub your palms together to charge them with energy. Then put your palms on the lower half of the abdomen on both sides of the navel, close your mouth and take a deep breath through your nose. You need to exhale slowly, as if raising your stomach with your hands. Next, you should also inhale slowly, but now sticking out your stomach. The exercise must be repeated 2-3 times, and over time, you can increase the number of repetitions up to 12 times.

Sickness in transport

Some pregnant women do not have symptoms of toxicosis at normal times, but they begin to appear in transport. To avoid nausea and vomiting, it is necessary to travel only in the front seat (in front of the bus), it is advisable to look at the road through the windshield. Nausea will increase if you lean back, look out the side windows, or look back. Half an hour or an hour before the trip, it is advisable to dissolve three to five tablets of the homeopathic medicine "Avia-sea". This remedy helps with motion sickness, can be used during pregnancy.

Hospital monitoring

If the doctor finds adverse changes in the tests, and the woman's he alth continues to deteriorate, hospitalization may be recommended. This will allow doctors to monitor the he alth of the expectant mother and child. Doctors will restore the lost fluid, s alts and proteins, the woman will be put on a drip so that all the necessary substances go directly into the blood. To suppress nausea and vomiting, special drugs are used that block the gag reflex. Also, a woman will be prescribed sedatives, and with increased salivation, drugs that suppress the activity of the salivary glands. Methods of non-drug exposure, namely phyto- and aromatherapy, psychotherapy, acupuncture, will help to reduce the number of drugs. As soon as the pulse, blood pressure, amount of urine, temperature normalizes, and nausea and vomiting do not manifest themselves so much, the pregnant woman will be able to return to her home environment.

Boy or girl?

Due to the deterioration of he alth, many women try to determine the onset of pregnancy, but nausea and vomiting do not always indicate an interesting situation, and sometimes the expectant mother may not feel these unpleasant symptoms at all throughout the entire period. What is there, according to their condition, some even try to find out the sex of the unborn child. Who will be born if a woman experiences severe toxicosis in the early stages? Boy or girl? A lot of future and accomplished mothers believe that thisa harbinger of the birth of a girl, while others argue that in this case, most likely, a woman carries an heir under her heart.

Scientists say that there is no connection between the sex of the unborn child and the severity of the manifestations of toxicosis. A study was conducted in which experts monitored 4 thousand expectant mothers suffering from bouts of vomiting and nausea. In due time, 44% gave birth to boys, 56% - girls, that is, almost in half. So toxicosis and the sex of the unborn baby are not interconnected in any way. Of course, it is interesting to know who will be born, but the main thing is that the child is conceived, he althy, growing and developing on time.

No toxicosis

Expectant mothers are so accustomed to the statement that toxicosis is an absolutely normal condition of a pregnant woman, that its absence makes one think about the he alth of the fetus. In fact, such suspicions are completely unfounded. If the expectant mother is he althy, then there may be no manifestations of toxicosis at all, and this is completely normal. This situation confirms that the body has adjusted to the new regimen, copes well with stress and has adapted to its condition. The absence of toxicosis ensures that the fetus has all the necessary substances for full development and allows the expectant mother to truly enjoy her special condition.