Toxaemia and Pre-Eclampsia of Pregnancy

Symptoms

Elevated blood pressure is the first symptom a pregnant woman can note, second being oedema (swelling) of hands, feet and face. The third sign is the appearance of protein in the urine.

These are the warning signals, and if they are not heeded convulsions (fits) may occur, fortunately rarely, strokes and death of the mother have happened. The toxaemia has then become a more serious condition known as eclampsia.

A careful pre-natal health care can prevent this condition or make it less serious. Once a expecting mother stars excreting high proportion of protein in the urine, pregnancy is not likely to continue for longer than 2 weeks.

Signs

. Headache

. Flashing lights

. Nausea

. Vomiting

. Pain in abdomen

Can it be treated?

Eating a well balanced diet comprising of green vegetables, fresh fruits, more of protein and less carbohydrates and salt, reduces the incidence of toxaemia. Woman should also take rest.

If a woman is having symptoms for a long duration then she should be admitted in the hospital for further treatment and if necessary early delivery of the baby.

However, once the conditions are identified, complete bed rest in the hospital with careful monitoring is usually enough to prevent it from getting worse further.

Can Tomaemia harm the unborn baby?

Toxaemia and eclampsia should not be taken lightly as starting with the minor ailment they can develop into a dangerous disease. Toxaemia can harm the unborn baby.

If the symptoms go unchecked then it can cause the placenta — the connection between mother and baby to fail leading to premature labor before the baby is mature enough to survive. When toxaemia becomes eclampsia, it can cause fits and coma.