5 Things You Need to Know About Toxemia Causes

1. Toxemia Is Hypertension That Develops in Pregnancy

Toxemia, also known as preeclampsia is hypertension that develops in pregnancy. There's actually no known cause for toxemia or preeclampsia. Researchers believe that toxemia begins when a woman is in the early stages of her pregnancy when there's not enough blood flow to the placenta. Any symptoms, however, don't usually show up until around the twentieth week of the pregnancy, making it very hard to know exactly when it developed.

2. Higher Percentage of Toxemia in First Pregnancy

It's believed that approximately 7 percent of pregnant women develop some degree of toxemia. There seems to be a higher percentage of toxemia that develops in a first pregnancy. A woman's risk of developing toxemia goes down with each following pregnancy, unless the woman is pregnant by a different man with the second pregnancy. Older pregnant women, as well as women pregnant with twins, triplets or more could be at a higher risk for developing toxemia.

3. Prenatal Exams Help Monitor Toxemia

The symptoms aren't always the same from one pregnant woman to another. Excessive weight gain and bloating or swelling in the face, hands, feet and even vision problems may be the first visible indications that toxemia or preeclampsia is present. Regular prenatal exams with your doctor will monitor your blood pressure and check the urine. A rise in your blood pressure along with increased protein in the urine is a signal for your doctor that toxemia has developed.

4. Higher Risk Factor Should Be Taken Seriously

When the case of toxemia is rather mild, the doctor can monitor and care for the pregnant woman and her unborn baby. When the pregnant mother's blood pressure keeps rising, toxemia becomes severe and many health problems could arise. The possibility of going into a convulsion is possible, as well as having a stroke, liver and kidney damage. These complications are serious and could result in a coma or even death, if untreated. Pregnant women with diabetes or kidney disease are at an increased risk for toxemia and complications during pregnancy. Every complication that affects the pregnant mother also affects her unborn baby.

5. Follow Your Doctor's Instructions

Just as there's no known cause for toxemia, there's also no known cure for it either. When the baby is born, the blood pressure of the mother should return to normal. Until that time, pregnant women should follow the instructions of their doctor, which might include bed rest or hospitalization, if necessary. Doctors may prescribe medications to lower the blood pressure. Depending on the patient, your doctor may recommend adjusting the prenatal vitamins, adding or changing the calcium intake or introducing aspirin in low dose supplements. The goal for everyone is to have both a healthy new baby and a healthy mother.