What is Toxemia?

Answer 1

Every year thousands of women suffer from pregnancy induced hypertension. This disease has two names, Toxemia and Preeclampsia. It is estimated that 7 out of every 100 pregnant women will develop Toxemia to some degree. Mild Toxemia is monitored closely and usually causes very little problems for the mother or child. However, when Toxemia becomes severe it can cause many health problems.


There is no known cause for Toxemia. The facts they do know so far include the following. Toxemia starts to develop as your placenta begins to develop, although it may not be detected until the later part of your pregnancy. Most cases of Toxemia happen with first pregnancies. Second and subsequent pregnancies are at lower risk, unless the woman is with a new partner. Since they don't know what causes it, there is no way to tell if a woman is at risk before she gets pregnant.



It is very important to make sure you see your doctor regularly during your pregnancy so he or she can detect any signs of Toxemia. They check your blood pressure for this reason. As it starts to rise, this is the first evidence of Toxemia. Other symptoms include bloating of the hands, feet and face due to your body retaining fluids. Your urine is checked for protein levels at each visit. If the protein level in your urine rises, it is another sign of Toxemia.


Some of the health problems associated with Toxemia can be very dangerous to the mother and the child. Besides, high blood pressure there are other things that can go wrong with your health. Toxemia can create liver and kidney damage or failure. It can cause problems with your eyesight. If left untreated for too long, it can cause the patient to go into convulsions. These convulsions can lead to coma and even death.


This is because your blood pressure just keeps rising higher and higher. Such high blood pressure can also cause a stroke. Any of these health problems can affect the baby as well. If a mother is in danger, her baby will be in danger also.


Toxemia is not something to mess around with. It is very important to follow your doctor's orders strictly when you find out you have developed this disease. Some women are lucky and can have it controlled with mild doses of high blood pressure medication. However, in other women they are sent to bed for the remainder of their pregnancy. This will not stop Toxemia, but it is an attempt to slow down its progress.


Being bedridden is not fun, especially if you still have many weeks left until the birth of your child. But, if this is what your doctor has ordered, don't question it, just do it. You are actions will not only affect your health but the health of your baby. While, this seems like a severe way to treat a disease, it is necessary. There are things you can do to help you cope with this confinement.


Make sure you have plenty of things within reach to keep you entertained. Reading material should not include just novels. You may get bored of reading this one type of material. Have magazines, newspapers, and non-fiction books as well. If you have a favorite ezine, have someone print out the articles from that, too.


Of course, you'll want a television in the room with you. Make sure the remote is right there next to you. However, watching television will get monotonous, so you'll want other entertainment, too. Hand held electronic games are good things to help you pass time. A deck of cards will be useful in playing solitaire or playing card games with anyone who comes to visit. Crossword puzzle books, word search books, coloring books and crayons are other things that can help you pass time, or heck who knows, maybe even an actual "book" book.


Another good way to help you keep yourself occupied is to write. Have stationary, notebooks, and pencils and pens near by. And, if you are someone who possesses one, have your laptop there with you. But, no WORKING, only writing that will bring you entertainment. You can write letters, to do lists, shopping lists, or keep track of names for your baby. Use a notebook as a journal and write down your feelings and thoughts as you pass these days in bed. If you are someone who really enjoys writing, you can use this time to write articles or stories.


You are bound to get hungry, and there may be times you are home alone. So, make sure you have it all set up so you don't have to get out of bed to get anything. Have someone pack a picnic basket with all the foods you like to eat that can be kept at room temperature. Dried fruit, apples, bananas, and veggies should be in this basket. Cut down on the sodium and the sweets as much as you can. Make sure they include forks, knives, spoons, salt, sugar, plates, napkins, or anything else you may need in this basket.


Have a cooler with the things that need to stay cold next to the picnic basket. Keep your drinks in this. More than one kind of drink, such as orange juice, milk, vegetable juice, should be kept there for your convenience.


Allow other people to help with your household. Let mothers or sisters come in and clean for you. Get your husband or brother to do laundry and clean up the kitchen. Hire someone to mow the lawn. Any kind of household chore you usually do, you're going to have to let someone else do for a while. Be grateful for the time off, it'll probably be the last time in your life you get this break.


No matter how you chose to occupy yourself during this time, keep in mind you are doing this to take care of yourself and your baby. Quite often babies have to be born early through inducement or c-section. The more you rest the longer you'll be able to go without having to give premature birth to your child. It is, for this reason, very important that you do as your doctor says, and stay in bed. This will more than likely mean only getting up to go to the bathroom, no exceptions. While it may be a difficult thing to live with at the time, you know it will be well worth it when that sweet bundle is in your arms.

Answer 2

When a pregnant woman has high blood pressure it can lead to toxemia.

Answer 3

its sad that some people copy and paste answers (chihuahuas2).

in simplier and not so long answer - toxemia is Pregnancy-induced hypertension, a dangerous condition that may occur during pregnancy. Symptoms may include elevated maternal blood pressure, swelling of ankles and hands, sudden weight gain and protein in the urine.

Answer 4

Toxemia is what they used to call preclampsia or PIH.