Homocysteine ​​in Pregnancy Planning

Preparation for the birth of a new person is a process that is always accompanied by examinations not only of the future mother, but also of the future father of the child. Of course, there are a number of tests that are known to many: TORCH infections, spermogram, etc., but there are also some that future parents can hear for the first time. The blood test for homocysteine ​​during pregnancy planning is recommended for almost every future woman in childbirth, because an elevated level of this amino acid in the woman's body can lead to a deplorable situation.

Homocysteine ​​norm when planning pregnancy

This amino acid is formed in the body of any person by the breakdown of methionine, which is found in foods containing B vitamins: milk, eggs, meat and fish. When planning pregnancy, the rate of homocysteine ​​in women is 10-11 μmol / l, but at the end of the first and beginning of the second trimester its level may slightly decrease.

Who should take the homocysteine ​​test?

Physicians have long identified the risk groups of those women who before pregnancy are recommended to determine the level of this amino acid, in order to avoid negative consequences. Here fall the following categories of the fair sex:

• suffering from renal insufficiency, diabetes, psoriasis, hypothyroidism of the thyroid gland and having chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• supporters of vegetarianism and rigid diets, as well as women with small weight;
• having bad habits: alcohol and nicotine addiction, as well as coffee lovers.

The homocysteine ​​test for pregnancy planning is a blood test from a vein. However, it is worth remembering that it must be carefully prepared:

• a day before the analysis to exclude from the diet fatty foods;
• reduce physical exertion to moderate 24 hours before blood donation, if any;
• 8 hours before the analysis is not allowed to eat, and you can drink only boiled water;
• an hour before you donate blood you can not smoke.

High homocysteine ​​in pregnancy planning

Elevated levels of this amino acid can occur for several reasons: improper preparation for analysis, lack of vitamin B, bad habits and lack of exercise. After analyzing the data from the laboratory and your lifestyle, the doctor will easily be able to establish the reason why homocysteine ​​is raised when planning a pregnancy in your case. Prevention and treatment of this condition can be not only taking medications (intramuscular injection of B vitamins, taking Aspirin, Xexan, Fragmin, Lovenox, etc.), but also changing the diet. For this purpose, greens, walnuts, citrus, buckwheat, coarse flour, cheese, cottage cheese, beef and cod liver, etc. are introduced into the diet.

Especially it is worth to be careful of those girls whose homocysteine ​​level exceeded 12.9 μmol / l when planning pregnancy, because in this case the risk of violation of the placental circulation is almost 95%, which can lead to fetal death.

Low homocysteine ​​in pregnancy planning

It is completely different with those of the fair sex, who have found a lack of this amino acid. The doctors have proved that if homocysteine ​​is slightly lowered when planning pregnancy, then it does not affect the development of the future baby. However, if the amino acid index is only 4.1 μmol / l, then when a baby is born, a woman can feel serious ailments. To avoid this, doctors recommend that she drink one cup of coffee a day, and reduce physical activity to a minimum.

To summarize, I would like to say that with the deviations of homocysteine ​​from the norm, both in one and the other direction, it is worth to consult a doctor. After all, a properly selected diet and lifestyle will help to keep the health of the future mother and to bear and give birth to the long-awaited child without problems.