Symptoms of high bile acid in late pregnancy

When a woman is pregnant, she should check her body regularly every month, because there are many unknown abnormalities that may occur during pregnancy, so physical examination is the safest way to prevent the occurrence of diseases. Therefore, some women in late pregnancy are found to have high bile acid levels, which is very common in pregnant women. What are the symptoms of high bile acid in pregnant women in late pregnancy?

What are the symptoms of high bile acid in pregnant women?

High bile acid levels in the late stages of pregnancy can easily lead to a condition called cholestasis of pregnancy, which is mainly manifested by itchy skin and small red bumps on the body. If a woman experiences severe itching of the skin (such as the belly, hands, and feet) during pregnancy, it is recommended that she go to a regular obstetrics and gynecology hospital for examination as soon as possible and receive treatment after a clear diagnosis.

What is the cause of high bile acid in pregnant women?

ICP refers to the accumulation of bile in the liver of pregnant women during pregnancy, which blocks the excretion of bile acid and increases the concentration of bile acid in the blood, irritating the skin and causing itching. As to why this disease occurs, it is currently believed that it may be related to genetic factors and estrogen. The incidence of this disease is about 1%-3%. ICP does not pose much threat to the mother, but mainly endangers the fetus and can easily cause stillbirth and premature birth.

What to do if pregnant women have high bile acid

High total bile acid may indicate cholestasis, which will have a certain impact on the fetus. Therefore, it is recommended to take some medicine to treat cholestasis. If actively treated, the condition will improve. Then recheck the bile acid level after treatment.

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy is more common in women in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, with the main symptoms being skin itching and jaundice. The cause of the disease is still unclear.

Skin itching in pregnant women is a unique complication during pregnancy, with an incidence rate of approximately 2% to 4% among pregnant women. It has the characteristic of recurrence. For example, if intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy occurs in the first pregnancy, it will heal naturally after delivery without leaving any sequelae. However, the disease will relapse when the second pregnancy is about 7 months, and it will not get better after delivery. This disease has a familial tendency, and sometimes mother and daughter or sisters will develop the disease during pregnancy.

Why do pregnant women experience itching, elevated liver transaminase levels, and even jaundice? Studies have shown that this disease occurs because the placenta produces a large amount of estrogen, which changes the permeability of cell membranes, weakens the liver's ability to excrete bile, and causes bile congestion. Its main hazards are increasing premature birth, fetal distress and fetal mortality, and increasing the incidence of postpartum hemorrhage in pregnant women.

The incidence of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy is relatively high in Shanghai, Chengdu, Chongqing and other places in my country. This disease has no obvious harm to pregnant women. Symptoms of skin itching and jaundice that occur in the middle and late stages of pregnancy generally disappear within a week after delivery. However, these symptoms may reappear if the woman becomes pregnant again or takes estrogen drugs. However, this disease can endanger the fetus and may easily lead to premature birth, stillbirth, or fetal death. It has been reported that the premature birth rate of this disease is 44%, the fetal distress rate during delivery is 22%, and the perinatal mortality rate is 35%. Recent studies in the UK have shown that half of unexplained stillbirths are caused by intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.

Therefore, once a pregnant woman suffers from intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, she must closely observe the safety of the fetus in the uterus. If there are any danger signs, she should contact the doctor in time. After entering the late pregnancy, she should pay attention to the following aspects:

(1) Count fetal movements frequently (3 times a day, 1 hour each time).

(2) Family members should listen to the fetal heart rate regularly (1-2 times a day, each time for 1 minute).

(3) Follow up at the high-risk clinic every 1-2 weeks and take some Chinese and Western medicines that promote bile secretion as prescribed by the doctor; if necessary, some examinations such as electronic fetal heart monitoring and B-ultrasound are also required.

(4) Situations where the fetus needs to be monitored by the surrogate mother after 35 weeks of pregnancy.

(5) The pregnancy will be terminated after 37 weeks of pregnancy, and the mode of delivery should be determined by the doctor based on the condition of the pregnant woman.

(6) It is not advisable to use estrogen-containing drugs after childbirth.

What to eat for pregnant women with high bile acid:

1..Vegetables. Spinach is rich in iron and is considered one of the vegetables that can prevent anemia during pregnancy. Cauliflower has many benefits. It is rich in calcium and folic acid, has a large amount of fiber and disease-fighting antioxidants, and helps the absorption of iron from other green vegetables.

2. Whole-wheat products, including oatmeal, whole-wheat biscuits, whole-wheat bread, etc. Oatmeal can help pregnant women with high glycocholic acid maintain more energy and lower the level of cholesterol in the body.

3. Fruit. Eat strawberries, citrus fruits, watermelon, papaya, mango, and grapes. They are rich in vitamins C and A, which can help pregnant women with high glycocholic acid maintain their physical strength and prevent fatigue caused by dehydration. At the same time, it will also have a certain effect on reducing glycocholic acid.

4. Milk and soy products. Pregnant women with high glycocholic acid should consume about 1,000 mg of calcium per day, and just 3 cups of skim milk can meet this need. Yogurt is also rich in calcium and protein, which helps gastrointestinal health.

5. Raisins. Raisins contain relatively high levels of calcium, phosphorus, and iron, as well as a large amount of vitamins and amino acids. They are an excellent tonic for pregnant women with high levels of glycosides and weak people with anemia.