What to do if a pregnant woman gets food poisoning. Poisoning during pregnancy: what to do? What to do in case of poisoning, treatment

Poisoning during pregnancy is dangerous for the life of mother and child. Toxins and poisonous substances can lead to miscarriage and even death of a woman. But there is a list of rules and actions to help avoid unnecessary health problems for the expectant mother and baby.

Main causes of poisoning in pregnant women

The main cause of poisoning in pregnant women is the consumption of low-quality, expired or incompatible food.

Food poisoning has become the most common type of intoxication against the backdrop of the expectant mother’s craving for a variety of foods in her diet. During pregnancy, many women have a desire to try new things or eat incompatible foods.

A neglectful attitude towards eating food can result in spoiled food, contaminated with microorganisms or their toxins. It is because of the toxins of pathogenic microbes that poisoning occurs.

Chemical poisoning occurs in women due to careless use of chemical household products. In addition, there is a possibility of poisoning through water and air, which contain chemical reagents.

Chemical poisoning can occur from eating food, such as vegetables, that have been treated with pesticides and herbicides.

It happens in pregnant women during the treatment of any disease without the supervision of a doctor. The cause of drug poisoning is excess dosage of the drug.

Symptoms

Symptoms of intoxication in pregnant women do not have any specific characteristics. Poisoning can be determined only by the following signs:

• nausea;
• diarrhea;
• constant unpleasant taste in the mouth;
• elevated temperature;
• dizziness;
• changes in blood pressure;
• heaviness in the abdomen and colic;
• prostration;
• lack of appetite.

If one or more symptoms appear, it is necessary to take measures to alleviate the condition and call an ambulance.

Consequences and what is the danger?

Food poisoning is dangerous during pregnancy, primarily due to dehydration. Exhaustion occurs against the background of vomiting, loose stools and profuse sweating due to elevated temperature.

In the mother's dehydrated body, the blood thickens. This can lead to the appearance of blood clots and worsen the process of feeding the fetus through the combined circulatory system.

Dehydration promotes increased production of the hormone oxytocin. It has a stimulating effect on the smooth muscles of the uterus and causes spasms. Its rapid contraction leads to termination of pregnancy.

Elevated temperature poses a great danger to the fetus. If you do not control it and do not take measures to relieve the fever, the child may die.

It is extremely important not to allow body temperature to rise above 38 degrees. Inside, the human body has a temperature 1-2 degrees higher.

Temperatures above 38-39 degrees will lead to the coagulation of fetal proteins and cause its death. This stage will become very dangerous for the woman if urgent surgical intervention is not performed.

There is a significant risk of intoxication of the body with toxins produced by bacteria. It is these toxins that cause poisoning. If measures are not taken to remove them from the body, they can penetrate through the placental tissue into the amniotic fluid. In this case, the child will find himself in an environment with a high concentration of toxic substances.

Poisoning with chemicals is dangerous because it affects the nervous system of a woman and child. Damage to the nervous system leads to difficulty and cessation of breathing. The heart and other vital organs may stop.

Due to chemical poisoning, a child may experience developmental delays. The worst option would be placental abruption and premature birth.

What to do in case of poisoning, treatment

The first step in case of intoxication is to call an ambulance. During pregnancy, you should not self-medicate intoxications. Especially if the cause is unknown.

In the early stages

In the early stages of pregnancy, it is necessary to support the mother's body and reduce symptoms.

1. The use of activated carbon is allowed to adsorb toxins and chemicals in the gastrointestinal tract.
2. Caffeine is administered to restore normal blood pressure. It stabilizes blood pressure and improves placental blood circulation.
3. Washing is done only with the permission of a doctor and is prescribed for moderate and severe cases.
4. Due to vomiting and diarrhea, it is necessary to replenish the water-salt balance of the body. For this, Regidron is used, as well as non-concentrated teas and compotes.

The main treatment consists of a gentle diet that helps quickly restore the mother’s body.

In the later stages

At later stages, the main treatment methods do not differ. For treatment the following are used:

• drinking plenty of water;
• gentle diet;
• intake of adsorbents;
• medications to restore blood pressure levels.

If necessary, in the later stages, medications are used to increase blood circulation in the placenta. This will help remove toxic substances from the placenta into the mother’s body, and then from there.

What can you eat if pregnant women are poisoned?

After poisoning, the body needs to recover and replenish its supply of nutrients. For this, a light, gentle diet is prescribed that does not irritate the gastrointestinal tract.

On the first day after poisoning, you are allowed to eat boiled rice or oatmeal porridge cooked in water. No butter or milk allowed. You can add tea with unsweetened wheat crackers to the porridge.

The next day's menu can be supplemented with mashed potatoes, kefir and baked apple. Low-fat meat or fish can be eaten a week after poisoning.

Fatty and dairy foods are not allowed due to the stress they create on the liver and pancreas. If your doctor has prescribed antibiotics, dairy products may cause indigestion.

How to protect yourself from poisoning?

The expectant mother will protect herself and her child from poisoning by following a simple rule. You just need to be more careful in choosing the foods you eat.

During pregnancy, the expectant mother should avoid canned foods. Spoiled canned food contains a huge concentration of toxic substances.

Do not eat sausages of any kind. Minced sausage is highly contaminated with harmful microorganisms that can cause poisoning.

It would be right to refuse to visit fast food restaurants and cafes, deliveries of shawarma and other similar products. Due to the large flow of people in such establishments, there is no time to thoroughly clean production equipment.

Saving on products leads to the use of low-quality ingredients. Due to the same savings, some establishments use expired products.

Avoid mushrooms. They adsorb everything that is in the environment and can cause food or chemical intoxication.

Those preparing to become mothers will have to give up new foods that they have never tried. This is especially true for exotic fruits.

Before reaching our shelves, fruits travel vast distances and pass through many hands. In addition to a large number of pathogenic microorganisms, such fruits may contain pesticides, antibiotics and other chemicals.

During pregnancy, you should strictly monitor the freshness of food. Under no circumstances should you eat expired products, even if they are 1-2 days expired.

Raw smoked and dried foods are removed from the diet. The refusal is justified by the lack of heat treatment necessary to get rid of pathogenic microorganisms.

It is necessary to ensure the cleanliness of cutlery and dishes, and maintain personal and general hygiene. Be sure to wash vegetables and fruits, preferably with baking soda and under hot running water.

All dishes must be fully cooked and undergo full heat treatment.

Monitor your well-being and do not expose yourself and your baby to unnecessary risks. Follow the rules of nutrition, take care of your health and do not neglect the rules of hygiene. Among even the safest products you can find a hidden threat in the form of pathogenic microorganisms.

Vegetables and fruits that are not thoroughly washed, food that is put in the refrigerator at the wrong time - all this can lead to poisoning.

Signs of poisoning

Most often, the signs of poisoning do not differ between pregnant and non-pregnant women. These include:

• nausea;
• vomit;
• diarrhea;
• weakness;
• headache;
• increased body temperature;
• increased gas formation in the intestines;
• chills;
• lowering blood pressure;
• dizziness.

In late pregnancy, not all of these signs indicate poisoning. For example, loose stools and vomiting may indicate the onset of labor. Therefore, during pregnancy you should not self-medicate.

Treatment of poisoningduring late pregnancy

As a rule, treatment of poisoning during pregnancy is standard. The first thing to do when signs of poisoning appear is to call the specialist who is managing the pregnancy and discuss further actions with him. If it is not possible to consult by telephone, then you need to call a doctor and give yourself first aid:

• take sorbents (the most accessible activated carbon, but it must be taken at the rate of 1 tablet per approximately 10 kg of weight);
• drink a lot of liquid, but little by little. It is better to use special mixtures, such as rehydron;
• in case of severe poisoning, there is a need to take antibiotics (only on the recommendation of a doctor).

A few hours later, after the vomiting stops, you can gradually start eating. Since fasting is extremely harmful for pregnant women. You can start with tea with crackers. Then add rice without oil, boiled meat, baked apples. After final recovery, it is advisable to take a vitamin-mineral complex (you should first consult with a specialist).

Why is poisoning dangerous?during late pregnancy

Despite the fact that if the expectant mother is poisoned, toxins cannot reach the child, the poor health of the pregnant woman cannot but affect the child. As usual, poisoning is accompanied by dehydration of the pregnant woman’s body, which impairs blood flow to the placenta. This is why it is so important to drink plenty of fluids. Since the pregnant woman’s nutrition is impaired, the child does not receive enough of the nutrients he needs. Spasms of the diaphragm during vomiting are dangerous if there is a threat of miscarriage, because they can lead to the onset of contractions.

Prevention of poisoningduring late pregnancy

To avoid poisoning, it is enough to follow the usual hygienic rules for storing and preparing food. The finished dish must be placed in the refrigerator immediately after it has cooled (maximum 60 minutes after cooking). Fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs should be thoroughly washed under warm running water. Finished products should not come into contact with products that have not undergone heat treatment. For cutting meat products, specially designated boards should be used.

When purchasing products, you need to monitor their production times. Products that spoil quickly should be immediately taken home and put in the refrigerator (this is especially important in the summer). Any foods that cause you concern should not be consumed (even after repeated heat treatment).

Even though the consequences of poisoning can be very serious, there is still no need to panic. Timely treatment and referral to specialists will help minimize risks.

Food poisoning during pregnancy can happen to every woman. It is very important to know what to do if this disease develops and which doctor to contact. This article discusses the causes, symptoms and treatment methods of poisoning in pregnant women, as well as possible consequences for the fetus and woman.

Main causes of poisoning

Pregnant women are more susceptible to food poisoning. Their immune system is weakened, and the body is not fully protected. Poisoning during pregnancy can be caused by:

• Spoiled and stale food products. Most often, poisoning in pregnant women is caused by dairy products, eggs, and meat.
• Food contaminated with bacteria. The food may be prepared by a person who has an intestinal infection and who has contaminated the food with their dirty hands. Also, food can become infected much before it reaches the kitchen. For example, eggs can be contaminated with salmonella.
• Failure of a pregnant woman to observe basic personal hygiene. E. coli can enter her body through unwashed hands.
• Mushroom poisoning occurs as a result of eating poisonous or improperly prepared mushrooms.

What are the dangers of poisoning while pregnant?

Food poisoning during pregnancy can harm not only the mother, but also the fetus. For a child, the most dangerous is mushroom poisoning, since their toxins can enter directly into his body through the placenta, and lead to his death.

In case of food poisoning, the fetus is protected by the placenta from intestinal infection or toxins from spoiled food. A threat to his condition is disturbances in the functioning of the woman’s body.

Below are the main possible consequences for a pregnant woman who has been poisoned and for her unborn baby:

• If poisoned in the early stages of pregnancy, spontaneous abortion may occur. It is caused by the severe condition of the woman’s body, dehydration and high intoxication. The risk of such an interruption remains for up to 14 weeks.
• During poisoning in the later stages, premature contractions may begin. They are provoked by contractions of the diaphragm during vomiting.
• If a woman experiences placenta previa in late pregnancy, she may begin to bleed.
• Fetal hypoxia is caused by severe maternal dehydration, during which the baby does not receive the nutrients, oxygen and fluid it needs. Hypoxia can lead to developmental disorders and even fetal death.

Main symptoms of poisoning

The first clinical manifestations of poisoning can begin within 1-2 hours after eating. The extent of their manifestation depends on what exactly the pregnant woman was poisoned with.

The main clinical manifestations of food poisoning include:

• Development of nausea followed by vomiting. Vomit first contains the remains of eaten food, then it may consist of gastric juice and bile. It brings relief for a while, but then the nausea returns.
• Diarrhea. The stool may be copious and liquid. With salmonellosis it is foamy and green in color, with dysentery it is watery.
• Intoxication of the body depends on the infectious agent or substance that led to the poisoning. With salmonellosis or dysentery, a high temperature is characteristic, up to 39-40 degrees, and with mild poisoning it can be normal, or not exceed 37.
• Abdominal pain can be localized in the stomach or intestines, be acute, or dull, paroxysmal.
• Increased gas formation, flatulence. This symptom is not indicative, since bloating often occurs in pregnant women.
• General weakness and malaise, headache are provoked by dehydration and intoxication.
• In case of mushroom poisoning, impaired consciousness, hallucinations, and rapid deterioration of the condition may be observed.

What to do in case of poisoning in pregnant women

How to treat poisoning during pregnancy? Self-medication of this condition while carrying a child can lead to serious complications, which are described above. If symptoms of poisoning develop, the first thing to do is call an ambulance. The medical team, after an examination, will decide what to do and will tell you whether hospitalization is necessary or whether you can be treated on an outpatient basis.

Remember that trying to induce vomiting and rinsing at home is prohibited! This can lead to bleeding and premature birth.

While the doctors are traveling, try to calm the woman down and explain to her that there is no threat to her and the baby. Miscarriage and premature birth can also develop due to nervous stress.

The number of medications allowed during pregnancy is very limited. On your own, you can only give a woman a few tablets of Activated Carbon., which neutralizes and removes toxins from the intestines.

Subsequent treatment

Doctors who come to the call will assess the woman’s condition, measure her arterial blood pressure, pulse, saturation, and listen to the fetal heartbeat.

Most likely, they will advise hospitalizing the pregnant woman in a hospital. Until the 20th week, women are treated in gynecology, and after that in the obstetric department. The gynecologist, after examining the woman, will decide on hospitalization. If her condition is not serious, he will prescribe treatment and send her home.

For severe intestinal infections, therapy is carried out in a hospital setting, where the woman is treated for dehydration and the condition of her fetus is monitored.

Treatment of poisoning consists of:

• Therapeutic diet. A woman should receive balanced and complete nutrition. It is forbidden to go hungry. The gynecologist will describe in detail the permitted and prohibited products. You should eat often and in small portions.
• Etiological treatment. For an intestinal infection, antibiotics may be needed. They are selected by the attending physician.
• Dehydration therapy. This could be drips or drinking plenty of fluids.
• Symptomatic treatment.

Survey

During pregnancy, treatment of poisoning is carried out very carefully. Doctors are afraid of harming the fetus with drugs. To determine the condition of the child and mother, identify the cause and complications, the following examinations may be required:

• A complete blood count will help identify dehydration, bacterial infection, anemia and inflammation in the body.
• A general urine test is necessary to exclude renal pathology.
• Stool culture is performed to detect intestinal infection.
• Ultrasound examination of the fetus helps to assess its condition and the absence of a threat to it.
• Ultrasound examination of internal organs is performed to diagnose pancreatitis and cholecystitis, which are common complications of toxic infections.

How to protect yourself from the disease

During pregnancy, women should take all possible precautions to help them avoid poisoning.

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before each meal and food preparation.
• Do not buy products from spontaneous unauthorized markets. The products sold there do not undergo sanitary inspection.
• During pregnancy, avoid eating mushrooms, raw meat and fish.
• Don't buy prepared foods in supermarkets.
• Carefully read the manufacturing dates of products and pay attention to the integrity of their packaging.
• Avoid visiting restaurants and cafes, eat at home.

Poisoning in pregnant women can be caused by a large number of reasons. Treatment of this pathological condition should be carried out by a gynecologist. If the disease is mild, a woman can be treated at home, after examination and treatment by a doctor. In severe conditions, hospitalization is carried out in a hospital.

While carrying a child, a woman's taste preferences can change greatly. Expectant mothers, as a rule, try to be careful and include only healthy foods in their menu, but the risk of eating something that is not entirely harmless still exists. There is also the possibility of accidentally consuming products that were improperly stored or processed. In such cases, food toxicoinfection (poisoning by waste products of pathogenic microorganisms) may develop. Having information about how to behave if poisoned during pregnancy, the expectant mother can survive this trouble without consequences for the health of her baby.

Symptoms of food poisoning during pregnancy

Signs of food poisoning usually appear suddenly, within 2-3 hours after consuming low-quality products. In this case, the woman complains about:

• Heaviness and pain in the stomach;
• Increased gas formation in the intestines;
• Nausea, vomiting;
• Diarrhea;
• Chills, fever;
• Drop in blood pressure, dizziness, weakness.

The severity of symptoms may vary depending on the degree of poisoning. In case of not very severe conditions and proper treatment, all unpleasant sensations disappear within 1-3 days.

The effect of poisoning during pregnancy on the condition of the fetus

The danger of foodborne illness during pregnancy lies primarily in the fact that this condition is accompanied by rapid dehydration of the body. Loss of water makes the blood more viscous, blood flow in the blood vessels of the placenta slows down, and the fetus begins to lack oxygen. In addition, if poisoned during pregnancy, a woman cannot eat normally and deprives the baby of essential nutrients. A general decrease in the amount of blood causes a relative increase in the content of the hormone oxytocin in it, which can cause an increase in the tone of the uterus and the beginning of its contractile activity. In some cases, this condition threatens spontaneous miscarriage. The threat of premature birth is also created by tension in the diaphragm during severe vomiting.

Harmful substances that cause intoxication, if the placenta is functioning properly, cannot penetrate the fetal bloodstream. The exception is mushroom poisoning, which is especially dangerous during pregnancy. The placental barrier is not capable of retaining some poisons contained in mushrooms. The entry of these substances into the baby’s body usually leads to developmental defects.

Poisoning during pregnancy: what to do?

To protect the fetus from the consequences of poisoning during pregnancy, a woman must replenish fluid loss. To do this, you need to drink plenty of boiled or mineral water. Taking other drinks or any food at all in the first day after the onset of symptoms of intoxication is not recommended. Doctors have different opinions about artificially inducing vomiting. Some say that it is necessary to empty the stomach of food debris as soon as possible, while others say that severe vomiting can create conditions for the onset of labor (especially if there is already a risk of spontaneous abortion). If the condition is not very severe, it is recommended to drink constantly in small sips until vomiting and thirst stop. In addition, in case of poisoning during pregnancy, it is necessary to prevent the absorption of harmful substances in the intestines. For this purpose, sorbents are used (enterosgel, activated carbon, etc.), which do not affect the course of pregnancy and the condition of the fetus.

For several days after the symptoms of poisoning cease, it is necessary to follow a gentle diet. For the first meal, strong sweet tea, chicken broth with white crackers, and rice porridge with water are best. Other foods should be introduced into the diet carefully, in small portions.

You can try to relieve the symptoms of intoxication on your own only if they are not very pronounced. When there is a high temperature, fainting, and vomiting and diarrhea cannot be stopped, it is necessary to call an ambulance and agree to hospitalization. Immediate seeking of medical help is also important if there is a suspicion of poisoning with mushrooms or canned food. Try to save for analysis the remains of the food that could cause toxic infection.

How to avoid food poisoning during pregnancy

Despite the fact that the expectant mother wants to diversify her diet as much as possible, during pregnancy it is worth limiting yourself to the consumption of the following products:

• Mushrooms;
• Canned food (including homemade);
• Seafood (mussels, shrimp, crabs, etc.);
• Perishable sweets (cakes and pastries with cream);
• Cooked-smoked and boiled sausages;
• Fruits and vegetables that can contain large amounts of pesticides and nitrates (watermelons and melons are especially dangerous in this regard).

Severe poisoning during pregnancy can be caused by fermented milk products (cottage cheese and sour cream). In addition, in the hot season, perishable foods pose a danger: soups, salads with mayonnaise, boiled meat and fish, chicken eggs. Therefore, you should buy food only after making sure that it is fresh, and place cooked dishes in the refrigerator immediately after cooling. To avoid trouble, pregnant women should not eat fast food or visit catering establishments. Vegetables and fruits must be purchased from trusted places and washed thoroughly before use.

Poisoning during pregnancy most often passes without serious consequences for both expectant mothers and their babies. However, even about a minor ailment that has ceased without the help of doctors, a woman should inform her doctor so that he can order tests, assess the patient’s condition and recommend that she take the necessary vitamin preparations.

Text: Emma Murga

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