Fetal development requires a delicate balance between numerous nutrients and minerals. Potassium is one of the minerals that a developing child needs for muscle function, nerve signal transmission and other vital functions. However, too much potassium, a condition called hyperkalemia, adversely effects a fetus and could lead to loss of the pregnancy.
Birth Defects
Exposure to excess amounts of potassium is associated with an increased risk of fetal birth defects, Drugs.com warns. Birth defects include abnormal heart development, spinal column malformations and other less-serious conditions. Further research is needed to determine the exact mechanism in which potassium causes birth defects. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should avoid taking high doses of potassium and limit their exposure to any potassium-containing compounds. Talk to you doctor about how much potassium is right for you.
Cardiac Arrest
If a large dose of potassium reaches the fetal heart, cardiac arrest often occurs. Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart muscle fails to contract and the heart does not pump blood to the rest of the body. A study published in a 1994 issue of “Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy” reports that a direct injection of potassium to a fetus induces cardiac arrest and subsequent fetal demise. Excess potassium interferes with the electrolyte balance within the heart muscle and prevents the muscle from contracting properly.
Placental Hemorrhage
The placenta is the sac in which the fetus develops. The placenta filters blood, oxygen and nutrients from the mother to the child. Hyperkalemia interferes with the stability of the placenta and causes hemorrhaging, according to an April 1979 article published in “Pediatric Research.” Hemorrhaging is the abnormal loss of blood due to damage to your blood vessels. Large amounts of hemorrhaging within the placenta often lead to damage to the fetus. If the bleeding is not reversed, the fetus will die due to lack of proper nutrition and oxygen.
Potassium Overdose
Identifying the symptoms of potassium overdose in a pregnant woman help with the diagnosis of hyperkalemia and allow for treatment prior to the fetus being harmed. Symptoms of potassium overdose include muscle weakness, fatigue, vomiting and cardiac arrhythmias, Birth.com explains. If you believe you may have overdosed on potassium, consult your doctor immediately. Treatment will save not only your life, but also that of your unborn child.
References
- Drugs.com: Potassium Citrate Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Warnings
- Birth.com.au: Potassium
- Pediatric Research; Potassium: Aldosterone Relationships in Pregnant Ewes and Chronically Cannulated Ovine Fetuses.; E.M. Wintour et al.
- Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy; Induction of Fetal Demise in Advanced Pregnancy Terminations: Report on a Funic Potassium Chloride Protocol; P. Gill et al.
Member Comments