High uric acid index during pregnancy: Risks and prevention

Pregnant mothers should be careful with the high uric acid index because it can cause you to get pregnant complications, which in turn affects the fetus.

The high uric acid index during pregnancy is not good for the health of the pregnant mother and the baby in the womb. This condition is often related to gout , a form of arthritis. Additionally, high uric acid levels also put you at increased risk for serious conditions like preeclampsia and gestational diabetes. Together with aFamilyToday Health, learn about uric acid, the signs to identify if pregnant women have a high uric acid index and how to prevent it.

Learn about uric acid

Uric acid is a metabolite created inside your body. When you eat certain foods, the body will convert purines from foods such as meat, fish ... Then, these substances break down and form uric acid. Under normal conditions, the kidneys are the organ that helps to process this acid. But when the uric acid index is high, the kidneys will not be able to perform the task completely, causing the chemical to accumulate back into the bloodstream.

Signs when uric acid is elevated

This condition will not appear any obvious symptoms, but sometimes they will appear in the form:

Fever, chills

Having trouble urinating

When crystals of uric acid settle into one of the joints, it causes pain.

Causes of increased uric acid in pregnant mothers

When pregnant, the mentality of pregnant mothers is easily affected by the thought of eating a lot to supplement or eating for two, so they accidentally eat a lot of foods rich in purines, such as red meat , animal organs and seafood products or abuse of spices to taste, including fish sauce, salt.

The uric acid index is normal during pregnancy

For non-pregnant women, normal uric acid levels should be between 2.5–5.6 mg / dL.

Under normal circumstances, the uric acid concentration range in the first trimester is 2–4.2 mg / dL.

During the second trimester , the range increased to 2.4–4.9 mg / dL.

During the third trimester , the uric acid index should be between 3.1–6.3 mg / dL.

These numbers are a rough estimate because sometimes hospitals return different results.

Risks when pregnant mothers have high uric acid index

High uric acid levels during the first trimester of pregnancy can lead to pre-eclampsia and an increased risk of gestational diabetes . About 4% of pregnant mothers can develop this condition. If it does, your body will not be able to produce and use the hormone insulin to control blood sugar.

On the other hand, pre-eclampsia will be determined when the blood pressure increases after 20 weeks of pregnancy , the presence of protein in the urine (proteinuria) is also an indication of this condition.

Effect of high uric acid index on the fetus

The high uric acid index during pregnancy can affect the unborn baby's condition, such as weight. If body weight does not reach the standard, the baby will suffer serious health effects or even death. In addition, the fetus is also at a higher risk of diabetes and congenital heart disease compared with other babies. When pregnant mothers suffer from gestational diabetes , the fetus will simultaneously appear high blood sugar index.

What to do when I have a high uric acid index?

To ensure your baby is born in a healthy condition, pregnant women should try to reduce uric acid levels through diet, exercise and yoga . There are many foods that are good for lowering the uric acid index such as fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds good for pregnant women , cereals. You should also avoid junk food, organ meats, and refined sugars.

Measures to prevent uric acid from rising during pregnancy

Keeping uric acid levels under control is extremely important for the health and safety of the mother and fetus to prevent the complications listed above. To lower uric acid levels, begin exercising regularly and notify your doctor if any unusual symptoms appear.

If you are overweight, pregnant mothers must exercise and eat healthy foods to lose weight during pregnancy. Finally, increase your drinking water because water will help the kidneys to eliminate uric acid faster, avoiding too much tea or coffee. These ways not only help you stay in shape, but also reduce any unnecessary complications that pregnant women face during pregnancy.

Some low-purine foods that pregnant mothers can eat include:

Milk, eggs

Fresh fruits and juices

Peanut butter and nuts

Lettuce, tomatoes, dark green vegetables.

Pregnancy will cause the body to undergo many changes, so pregnant women do not panic when the uric acid index increases. Please follow the suggestions listed as well as combine with regular antenatal care to have a stable health.