Toximia or However You Spell It... It Sounds Scary!

Hi. I've heard of it but have never experienced it! Here is a link I looked up for you!

http://www.alexian.org/progserv/babies/secondtri/toxemia....

Like all of the other moms have said -- it's very serious. Do what you are told to do w/r/t rest, etc. You'd MUCH rather deal w/bedrest and other annoyances now than have problems and have the baby come early. My girlfriend had toxemia and delivered her little one 2 months early. All is well now, but the time that Kimmie was in the Neonatal ICU was horrid. So be careful NOW and it'll pay off!

Oh yeah and that same friend just had her 2nd daughter on Monday -- FULL TERM! :)

First of all I am sure that noone has said that toximiea is passed on through generations. I was 19 when I had my daughter I did not find out I had toximiea until I went into the doctor for my 7 month check up and he said that there was something wrong and that I had to go to the hospital right then and I could not even go home to get clothes. I found out after being admitted that I had toximea and I knew for a fact that my aunt had it when she was pregnant. I was in the hospital for two weeks before I had my daughter a month and a half early. She was 3lbs 10 1/2 ozs. I was so swelled by the Magnesium that the pumb in your iv you could not even see my ankels. The bad thing is there is nothing you can do to prevent this and there is no diet and anything else you can do to make it any easier. The one piece of advice I can give you is be aware of your signs and talk to your doctor constantly. Good Luck.

K.,

When I was pregnant with my daughter I went in for a normal check up when I was about 32 weeks along, and I ended up having all the signs of toximia (not sure of the spelling either) so they did several test on me including the urine test! They also done some kind of stress test on me and the baby and that took about an hour or so! It was quite scary! But everything turned out just fine! I'm still not too sure why I had all the signs of it but didn't have it! Also when my step mom was pregnant with my half sister I was 14 years old, she did end up having it when she went to one of her check ups but she was close to being due so they ended up taking the baby! Right now I wouldn't be too concerned even though it does seem very scary, just try to get online and check out some info on it! It may help ease your mind, and if not talk more to your doctor, they know more about your situation, and just make sure they give you the information that you need and want! Good luck!

C. H

I didn't have it - had high BP at the end, but never went to toxemia. My aunt had 2 pregnancies that ended up with premies due to severe toxemia - and she was very ill. Read up on it. Here's two links. There's been ALOT of medical intervention with this now, so you should be in good hands since your doc's on the ball with it already! Good luck w/ baby - and shoot for Jan 29... that's when my first son was born!!!!!!!!!!!!

www.pregnancytoday.com/resource/definitions/toxemia.htm

www.webmd.com/content/article/4/1680_51845.htm

Pre e is very dificult to diagnose, but if you ahve high BP and protine in you urine, you need to take it easy. Are you very swolen? I was on bed rest for two weeks b/c of high BP. I was induced, and my baby was fine (10#6oz. No wonder I had high BP). Here is the "good" news. Pre-e is usually only dangerous for tthe mother, generally the baby is just fine. So take care of your self, and do what your doctor says. Good luck!!! Bed rest is BORING!!!

Hi K.,

Toxemia can be very serious and it's important that you take care of yourself. Many women have good success with increasing the amount of protien they eat. How's your diet? If it's not great, changing your eating/drinking style may help tremdously.

There is a whole lot that we don't know about p-e but it does seem that it involves the liver not functioning correctly. Many women have swelling, high blood pressure and protien in the urine. These are all warning signs that something isn't right and it's extremely important to heed the signs and work really hard at taking care of yourself.

Keep us posted as to how you are doing

S.

I AM A 36YR OLD MOM OF 4. WITH MY FIRST AND THIRD CHILD I DEVELOPED TOXIMIA. YOU HAVE TO CHANGE YOUR DIETMGET ENOUGH REST AND WALK. NO SALT WILL HELP TOO. IT'S A FORM OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE IN PREGNANT WOMEN. WITH MY THIRD CHILD THEY HAD TO INDUCE MY LABOR BECAUSE I WAS HEADING FOR TOXIMIA SHOCK. DONT WORRY THOUGH THIS IS COMON IN PREGNANT WOMEN.

GOOD LUCK

My niece had toximia. She was swelled up like a balloon for most of her pregnancy. It can be dangerous to both mom and baby, but it's also treatable. It sounds like you're on the ball with finding out what to do. My niece's doctor put her on meds. I didn't see that they made a big difference to her, but that's her case and not necessarily yours. The one thing her doctor never talked to her about, however, was her diet. She ate horribly- lots of fast food and soda. She should have been on a low sodium/high protein diet. I know that might sound counterintuitive- you have high levels of protein in your urine so increase your protein intake. But everything I've read about pre-eclampsia/toxemia suggests a high protein diet is the way to go. I would suggest looking at Dr. Tom Brewer's pregnancy diet. Here is a link: http://www.blueribbonbaby.org

At this site, it discusses how Dr. Brewer's diet has been an effective tool at preventing/treating pre-eclampsia and toxemia. At this site, it starts with an article on this and then there is a link for his diet. He suggests you eat about 100 grams of protein a day, which can be difficult, but even getting 70-80 grams is great. I did this diet with both of my pregnancies and had two easy pregnancies and two beautiful healthy babies. Good luck and congrats!

I had it with both of my sons. U need to drink alot of water stay calm as possible keep ur feet up and just relaxe. If you have it there is nothing they can do for you to get ride of it except deliever. Both of my sons were early. My first was about 2 weeks and my second was 4 weeks. They let it go way to long with my first I gained 66 lbs in 3 months from all the fluid and was on blood pressure med and seizer meds. But after I delivered I was better about a week later or so cause it takes time for everything to some back down. With my second when it started back up they induced because they didnt want me back down that road again. But I still gained like around 60lbs with him. My daughter eveything was good till the last few months I got gest. diabities. I was insulin depended. She was early about 4 weeks but she done great.Its hard but just keep all of your appointment and do what they say also stay away from soda cheese and milk it will make it worse also salt well thats what they told me.
K.

I know this response is a little late, but toxemia and preelapmsia are extremely dangerous. To exasperate the problem, toxemia can be cause by so many things. And at times, very rarely, the problem can go away on its own. But it can also hurt the baby and you. I had an extreme case with my first child at 24 weeks. Turns out I have a Syndrome cause Hughes Syndrome and I ended up losing my baby, but fortunalty I am still alive. Yes it was that serious!!!

Hughes Syndrome, although a very old complication, has only been discovered as it's own disease for about 20 yrs. It's also called sticky blood because it causes your platelets to stick to together and cause clots. That's what happened to me, I was clotting off the ambilical cord. Many doctors don't yet know much about it, the test for the disease is a very inexpensive test. I and many beleive that it should be a standard test, since both men and women can have it, but you might not know you have it till it's too late.

With my second pregnancy, I knew I had the disease and was treated properly. I now have a very healthy, almost, 3 yr old.

I have also started having problems outside of pregnancy and now have to take blood thinners for the rest of my life, but it's better that having a stroke or heart attack. If you continue to have problems or your baby becomes stoic or doesn't grow. You should definetly get tested! It's a very inexpensive test.

Hi K.,
Well, often this is referred to as Pre-eclampsia, which like you mentioned is high blood pressure (>140/90) and protein in your urine. Unfortunately I did have it with my first pregnancy and was on bedrest (not up more than 4 hours a day) for the last 3 months of my pregnancy. However, I had a very cautious midwife who didn't want to medicate me. I was induced and delivered at 37 weeks to keep my b.p. from going up past 170/110. I don't want any of this to scare you. My little girl was fine. It's usually only a problem if it goes unnoticed and it sounds like you have great care right now. My second pregnancy I did have high b.p. but it never progressed into pre-e, still had the bedrest and medication as a precaution (that was fun with an 18 mo. old). Keep your chin up and listen to the docs even when you don't like what they're saying. Good luck to you. If you have more questions feel free to contact me. K.

Hey K., I had pre-eclampsia or toxemia (same thing)by the time I reached the end of my pregnancy. It started coming on earlier though. My blood pressure started to rise and I started to gain approximately seven pounds a week. I looked like a marshmellow puff. It was crazy looking. When I started to spill protein, I was induced. Unfortunally, the only cure for preeclampsia is delivary. I was on bedrest for a couple months beforethe delivary, so that may be what your OB does since you are still not close to your due date. Good luck!! Good thing is it goes away immediatly after delivary and every minute is worth it when you looking at your beautiful baby!!!

I had it with both of my daughters. It is something to take serious. You need to drink plenty of water. Try not to get upset or stress much. I had two rough pregnancies with it, but I worked alot. keep your stress levels down, drink plenty of fluids, and make sure you elevate your feet as much as possible. And good luck! your in my prayers.

I had pretty bad preeclamcia which is related to toxemia. Your doctor will monitor you very closely, extra protein in your urine is one of the key indicators. Also high blood pressure, terrible swelling in the face, hands, feet and legs, as well as fluid retention. I had all of them but the protein and was put on bed rest at around 5 months. I had to go more frequently to the doctor than other moms to have my blood pressure checked, at one point they said it was stroke high. I was scheduled for a non-stress test at about 8 1/2 months, luckily the day before my water broke and I went into labor and had a healthy natural delivery of a beautiful little girl. The condition could be dangerous and you will want to keep in good contact with your doctor. the most important thing you can do is to eat right during this time. Balanced meals, including veggies and lean meats. Sodium is ok, just make sure that you are not eating in excess with sodium as it can make swelling worse. Eat every 3 hours, you will want to eat 3 major meals about 400-500 calories and then 2 snacks around 100-150 calories and then something in the evening after dinner. eat yogurt, cottage cheese, raw veggies, ham roll ups something for your snacks that is nutritious. Don't play into the myth that you can eat whatever you want because you are pregnant, try to stear clear of fried foods, and processed foods, they are not good for you pregnant or not. this will help keep everything in balance and keep you healthy til you deliver. Congratulations and good luck.

I HAD IT WHEN I WAS PREGNANT WITH MY SON. THEY CALLED IT PREGNANCY INDUCED HYPERTENSION (PIH) I DONT WANT TO SCARE YOU BUT IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. YOU HAVE TO CAREFULLY MONITOR YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE, SALT INTAKE, AND AS HARD AS IT IS YOU HAVE TO STAY OFF YOUR FEET. LAYING ON YOUR LEFT SIDE IS BEST. I HAD IN HOME NURSES THAT CAME TO VISIT ME ONCE A WEEK MINE WAS A VERY BAD CASE. I WAS PUT ON TOTAL BED REST IT SUCKS TRUST ME BUT YOU DONT WANT TO DO ANYTHING TO RISK YOUR OR YOUR BABY'S LIFE.I DONE THE 24 HOUR URINALYSIS 2 OR 3 TIMES.MY FEET AND ANKLES WERE SO SWOLEN THAT THEY DIDNT LOOK NATURAL.I WAS TOLD BY MY DOCTOR BOTH OF THEM I HAD TO SEE A SPECIALIST THAT IF I STARTED EXPERIENCING PAIN IN MY RIGHT SIDE UNDER MY RIBS NEAR MY BREAST TO CONTACT HIM IMMEDIATLEY WELL 2 WEEKS BEFORE MY SON WAS DUE I STARTED HAVING THAT PAIN HE BROUGHT ME IN FOR A CHECKUP AND MY BLOOD PRESSURE WAS 181/100 HE SENT ME DIRECTLY TO THE HOSPITAL AND ADMITTED ME, INDUCED MY LABOR THE NEXT MORNING AND 23 1/2 HOURS LATER AND A C-SECTION MY 9LB 5OZ BIG BOY WAS BORN. SO JUST REMEMBER IT MAY BE UNCOMFORTABLE,BORING AND RESTLESS ON BED REST BUT IN THE END IT'S WORTH IT. MY BIG BABY BOY IS NOW 4 YEARS OLD AND I REMEMBER IT ALL LIKE IT HAPPENED YESTERDAY. GOOD LUCK AND I WILL BE PRAYING FOR YOU AND YOUR LITTLE ONE.

Hey hun, I'm toximic also. I'm about 11 weeks preg now. Really the only thing doctors can do is check your blood levels, but you are going to have extra protiene in you urin anyways, also that is a sign of maybe a touch of diebeties (I think that's right). But neways they told me to take two Flinstones complete vits a day and that should help me. When I know my iron is real low I feel sleepy and yucky, and I know I probably need some iron. Everything is always messed up when your pregnant anyways, and your blood levels are going to be a little off, but if they haven't said anything to you by now about meds, I wouldn't worry about it, just keep taking the vits.

I am 29 and had my first child last July. I started getting high blood pressure at 34 weeks. I even remember at my 7 month prenatal visit my blood pressure was 96/50 and then within a few weeks it was up to 150/90. I started retaining fluid and was put out of work and on bedrest. I had weekly ultrasounds, non-stress tests twice a week, and three 24hr urine tests. I didn't start spilling protien untill I was 38 weeks and at 39 weeks my doctor induced my labor. My daughter was low birth weight at 5lbs 9oz, but she was healthy. The best thing to do is drink plenty of water to keep the excess fluid flushed out, lay off the salt, and if your blood pressure gets high lay on your left side, amazingly enough that helps keep it lower. I really want to have another child next year but I am scared to death of having preeclampsia again. You really have to just take it easy and rest as much as you can. I hope all goes well for you.

I am having my first child in six weeks so i can see how excited you are. My mother had toxemia with me when i was born she had to watch what she ate like alot of salt is a bad thing. It really sucks if that is what you are craving to. Just watch the salt intake and get rest when you are swollen like prop your feet up. Good luck and congratulations.

I have a mild case of preeclampsia/toxemia. It is very scary and something that you really have to watch because it can get be staying at a good level and then overnight, become dangerous. I too did the 24 hour urine test because my blood pressure was consistently getting higher at each visit. Since finding out that I do have this, I have been seen by my doctor once a week and have ultrasounds twice a week. I am now 36 weeks pregnant and the doctors tell me that if the condition is controlled, they will try to get you to full term before you deliver. But if you start showing more signs of preeclampsia, they will induce after the 37th week. Good luck.