A dropsy of pregnant women is one of the first manifestations of toxicosis of the second half of pregnancy. The main symptom of dropsy is swelling that occurs as a result of water-salt metabolism in the body. Because of the delay in the body's fluid, first appear hidden, and later obvious swelling.
Diagnosis of dropsy in pregnancy
When dropsy pregnant in the patient's urine, a protein is found. At the same time, blood pressure remains normal. As the disease develops in most cases gradually, then with its diagnosis there are almost no problems. Before the appearance of severe swelling, the pregnant woman may be disturbed by "signaling" symptoms - excessive weight gain (more than 400 g per week), the so-called "ring symptom" (when the ring hardly moves on the finger), the habitual shoes become tight.
Another symptom of dropsy of pregnant women becomes a negative diuresis - that is, a decrease in the amount of urine released. In general, the condition of the pregnant woman remains within the normal range. And only with pronounced swelling there is shortness of breath, a feeling of heaviness, fatigue and sometimes tachycardia.
At the stage of diagnosis it is important to differentiate the edema of renal and cardiac origin. With cardiac edemas, among other things, a number of additional complications develop - cyanosis, enlargement of the liver, stagnation of fluid in the lungs, effusion of fluid in the body cavity. Renal edema is manifested first on the face, in parallel with this change in urine analysis, and in the blood raises the concentration of urea.
Stages of dropsy during pregnancy
There are four main stages in the disease:
- In the first stage, there are swelling of the legs and feet.
- The second stage is characterized by swelling of not only the lower extremities, but also the lower part of the abdomen and the region of the waist and sacrum.
- At the third stage, swelling spreads to the hands and face.
- The fourth stage is a general swelling. At the same time, the skin becomes glossy, while maintaining a normal color. This is a distinctive feature of a simple swelling from edema that occurs with kidney disease, when the skin becomes pale or from cardiac edema characterized by cyanosis.
What is dangerous about dropsy during pregnancy?
First, swelling is an extra fluid in the body. On average, 2-4 liters, for the retention of which the body spends extra effort and undergoes increased stress. Secondly, the already increased blood pressure increases even more. This can not but affect the body - its organs do not receive enough oxygen and other nutrients. Thirdly, in pregnant women, the volume of circulating blood decreases and its coagulability decreases due to the spasm of small blood vessels.
Consequences of these three factors in dropsy of pregnant women are violations of the functionality of the kidneys, brain and placenta, so that the child may lag behind in development.
Treatment of dropsy of pregnant women
The initial stages of dropsy are treated on an outpatient basis. Pregnant women are recommended to eat foods rich in protein (cottage cheese, meat, fish), fruits, juices and vegetables. It is necessary to reduce the intake of salt and liquid. Once a week, you need to spend unloading days (apple or cottage cheese). Good help broths of medicinal herbs - motherwort and valerian root, as well as funds for strengthening the vascular wall. It requires careful monitoring of body weight, blood pressure and urine output.
If the edema passes to the last stage, the pregnant woman is hospitalized and treated with diuretics along with the appropriate diet. In most cases, dropsy of the pregnancy is well treated, and the pregnancy ends safely.