Why cholesterol increases during pregnancy and how to reduce it

Everyone has heard about cholesterol, but not everyone attaches importance to it, much less gets tested. And it’s completely in vain - this indicator needs to be closely monitored in order to avoid dangerous diseases in the future. For example, high cholesterol during pregnancy can have a detrimental effect on its course and the health of the unborn baby. Therefore, today we will try to understand this issue in detail - you will find out what cholesterol is, how dangerous it is, and how to reduce its level without harming the unborn baby.

Cholesterol levels during pregnancy and the reasons for its high levels in the blood in later stages

There is nothing terrible about the fact that cholesterol is elevated during pregnancy - neither for the mother nor for the child. The body produces a large amount of hormones, and the placenta is formed. These processes require fats, so their levels increase.

In this article we will look at the main causes of high cholesterol during pregnancy, normal limits and ways to prevent deviations.

Cholesterol levels in each trimester of pregnancy

Normally, in a healthy woman, cholesterol should not exceed 5.2 mol/l, but in pregnant women it increases by 1.5-2 times. And this is the norm. It is dangerous if cholesterol increases by 2.5 times or more. The condition requires urgent treatment. The load on the mother's body during pregnancy is large, and the main consequence of atherosclerosis is heart failure. The mother's body may not be able to withstand it - a heart attack will occur. Excessively high cholesterol also has a negative effect on the child. It clogs the blood vessels of the fetus and prevents the full development of the brain.

Until the age of 40, cholesterol levels rise. There is no universal indicator. It is estimated based on the age of the expectant mother and the duration of pregnancy.

The norms of total cholesterol by age at different stages of pregnancy are shown in the table below.

In the first trimester, the cholesterol concentration is the same as in a non-pregnant woman. Only a slight increase is possible. A sharp jump is observed at the beginning of the second trimester, when the placenta begins to actively form. The cholesterol level is at its maximum in the 3rd trimester.

The importance of cholesterol levels in the 3rd trimester

To calculate the upper limit of the norm for a healthy mother, take the normal values ​​​​of non-pregnant women and multiply them by 2. For example, the norm of cholesterol for girls aged 16 to 20 years is 3.07-5.19 for non-pregnant women and 3.07-10.38 for pregnant women . Of particular importance is an analysis of cholesterol during pregnancy in the 3rd trimester, since its growth during this period can lead to pathologies in the development of the liver, kidneys and pancreas in the child.

That is why doctors closely monitor all changes in a pregnant woman’s tests and regularly give referrals for regular examinations. If tests are not taken on time, complications can harm the health of the mother and fetus and lead to the development of irreversible pathologies, and timely diagnosis will help to avoid all this.

Reasons for high rates in pregnant women

Cholesterol increases in late pregnancy for physiological reasons. Fat molecules are the basis of female hormones: estrogens and progesterone. During pregnancy, progesterone is produced in large quantities, requiring much more cholesterol than usual. The liver begins to intensively produce it, cholesterol is transported to tissues in the form of lipoproteins. On a biochemical blood test they are designated as LDL and VLDL (low and very low density lipoproteins). These are transport forms of fat molecules.

From the second trimester, the placenta forms in the uterus. Cholesterol is the basis for its cells. The longer the pregnancy, the more cholesterol. This is due to an active increase in the size of the placenta. A few days after birth, the indicator returns to normal and does not subsequently increase.

If the cholesterol level is exceeded by 2.5 times or more, we are talking about atherosclerosis and the risk of developing cardiovascular complications.

The causes of a pathological increase in fat in the blood can be:

• pathologies of the cardiovascular system present before pregnancy;
• a permanent infectious process in the mother’s body;
• liver diseases associated with impaired fat metabolism;
• kidney diseases;
• chronic pancreatitis;
• neoplasms on the endocrine glands;
• somatotropin deficiency;
• diabetes.

If a woman does not suffer from severe chronic diseases, then the reason for the jump in cholesterol is an incorrect lifestyle.

It manifests itself as follows:

• unbalanced diet: excessive consumption of animal fats, sweets, fried foods (frying produces large amounts of cholesterol);
• lack of physical activity;
• insufficient consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) - omega-3, omega-6, omega-9;
• consumption of small amounts of fluid;
• smoking, alcohol abuse.

If before pregnancy a woman smoked a lot and drank alcohol, her body weakens and cannot withstand the high load (supporting the vital functions of the child’s body in addition to its own). The cardiovascular system will fail and lipid balance will be disrupted.

Is it worth doing anything?

If cholesterol is within the normal range for pregnant women, then nothing needs to be done. If you are afraid that it will increase further, follow the available preventive measures. They will be listed below.

If the concentration of fats increases above the permissible level, the doctor will prescribe treatment: diet, physical therapy, taking dietary supplements for pregnant women.

Ways to reduce high cholesterol during pregnancy

The expectant mother should not take medications, but treatment for atherosclerosis can and should be done. There are a wide variety of methods available that lower cholesterol levels. Let's look at each of them in detail.

Recommended products and diet

You need to eat small meals throughout the day, but often. 5-6 times a day is the optimal number of meals, plus snacks in the form of yogurt, a glass of kefir or low-fat fermented baked milk.

It is recommended to prepare food in the following ways:

Fried and smoked foods should be avoided.

The basic principle of the diet is the absence of animal fats in the menu and the predominance of lipids of plant origin. Should be excluded:

• meat broths (all fats from meat are boiled in them);
• fat meat;
• high fat dairy products;
• lard, sausage, boiled pork;
• fast food, semi-finished products;
• cheese;
• coffee;
• alcohol;
• margarine;
• baked goods, sweets;
• mayonnaise;
• eggs (it is not necessary to give up eggs completely, you just need to limit their consumption: one per day is allowed).

Vegetables and fruits, the consumption of which is an excellent prevention of high cholesterol.

• vegetable oils: olive, corn, flaxseed, sesame;
• fruits and vegetables;
• greenery;
• cereals;
• fish;
• nuts;
• soy products (soy milk, cheese, cottage cheese).

Omega-3 plays a special role in the fight against cholesterol. It is a polyunsaturated fatty acid of natural origin. It not only covers the body’s need for fats, but also dissolves atherosclerotic plaques. Omega-3 is found in vegetable oils, avocados, walnuts, and fatty fish (salmon, sturgeon, herring, mackerel). It is advisable to consume these products daily.

The caloric content of the diet also needs to be reduced. Up to 2500 kcal per day. The amount of fluid consumed per day is up to 2 liters. This issue must be discussed with your doctor. In late pregnancy, many mothers are prone to swelling and increased blood pressure. In such conditions you cannot drink a lot.

Anti-cholesterol nutrition

To combat high blood lipid levels, you need to change your diet. You should avoid trans fats found in many foods. Under no circumstances should you go on strict diets. In late pregnancy, the following foods should be excluded from the diet:

Sea foods will help lower cholesterol levels:

• squid;
• shrimps;
• seaweed;
• mussels

You should limit the amount of salt to 5 g per day, and white bread to 100 g per day. Completely exclude foods containing vegetable fats from the diet:

Foods containing unsaturated fatty acids help improve the condition of blood vessels:

The following fruits, vegetables and fish bring the greatest benefit to a pregnant woman’s body:

It is recommended to limit salt intake, but not eliminate its use completely, since chlorine is part of the blood and gastric juice. It is necessary to consume foods containing antioxidants in sufficient quantities: oranges, grapes, rose hips.

High cholesterol during pregnancy

Cholesterol is a fat-like organic compound found in the cell membranes of the body. Cholesterol plays an important role in the body and ensures the stability of the cell membrane. The production of vitamin D, testosterone and estrogen, progesterone would not be possible without this organic compound.

Cholesterol is produced to a greater extent by the liver, kidneys, and adrenal glands. The remaining percentage of the organic compound enters the body from food. High cholesterol during pregnancy is a natural process caused by the development of a new life.

What causes cholesterol levels to increase?

A healthy woman's body contains approximately 4.138 mmol/L cholesterol. This indicator indicates the normal functioning of organs and systems and the absence of serious health problems. Why does the level of the substance increase? During pregnancy, cholesterol may rise slightly above the permissible norm.

This occurs against the background of the fact that the kidneys and liver begin to work harder due to hormonal changes. The adrenal glands are not able to cope with the elimination of excess and when taking tests, you can see an increase in a fat-like organic compound. During the period of bearing a baby, the normal cholesterol level is considered to be 3.20 - 14 mmol/l.

The organic compound indicator may increase depending on the age category of the pregnant woman. An organic fat-like compound plays an important role for the body of a woman carrying a child. Cholesterol is involved in the formation of the placenta, where the baby grows and develops. Cholesterol takes an active part in the synthesis of hormones.

If a woman feels well and does not experience any symptoms, then a decreased or increased indicator in this case will not indicate a pathological condition. The amount of cholesterol affects the health of the expectant mother and is responsible for the intrauterine development of the baby.

Why is it dangerous?

For women in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy, elevated cholesterol levels threaten the development of congenital heart, kidney and liver defects in the fetus. At a low level, there is a high risk of premature birth. Having a history of diseases that provoke an increase in fatty steroid levels in the blood, it is necessary to carefully monitor the well-being of the expectant mother.

If these symptoms occur, you should immediately consult a doctor:

There is a risk of early labor.

• paroxysmal headache accompanied by nausea;
• general condition is unsatisfactory;
• lack of appetite;
• reticular varicose veins;
• irritability;
• increased blood pressure;
• nagging pain in the heart, radiating to the collarbone.

If cholesterol levels are elevated in the early stages of pregnancy, this means that by 30 weeks the levels will only increase due to the increased need of the body of the expectant mother and fetus for growth. The doctor should explain that it will decrease and return to normal within a couple of months after giving birth. A low level of fatty steroid in the blood indicates an unbalanced diet and consumption of small amounts of vitamins.

Norms during pregnancy

The main indicators of cholesterol levels in the body during pregnancy include:

• total cholesterol indicator (3.08-13.8 mmol/l);
• the level of the atherogenic coefficient, reflecting the ratio of bad and good cholesterol (0.4-2.5 units);
• fatty acid content indicator (0.4-2.2 mmol/l).

A wide range of cholesterol levels during pregnancy may be due to a number of reasons. The indicator is influenced not only by the age category of the pregnant woman, but also by the duration of pregnancy. Below is a table with norms in the first, second and third trimester of pregnancy.

During pregnancy, part of the diagnosis is in the range of cholesterol 7 mmol/l or cholesterol 9 mmol/l. Both indicators are normal!

Diagnosis of cholesterol levels and its norm

It is a biochemical blood test that reveals the concentration of cholesterol. In the normal course of pregnancy, it is carried out three times during the entire period. If there are any deviations - as prescribed by the attending physician.

The cholesterol level for an adult should not exceed 6.9 mmol/l. For an expectant mother, an increase in this value by 1.5-2 times is considered acceptable.

If the indicator is exceeded by more than twice, the doctor prescribes a repeat test. If deviations are confirmed, the patient’s condition is constantly monitored by the attending physician.

To determine acceptable content depending on age, special standards have been developed.

The main values ​​are shown in the table:

Normal before pregnancy, mol/l

Possible increase during pregnancy

In a healthy young woman, during the period of bearing a child, the amount of cholesterol is almost always constant; a slight excess of 20–50% may be observed. Most often, high levels occur in older women giving birth or in the presence of any abnormalities in the body.

Gradually, cholesterol levels normalize and stabilize in the 3rd trimester, sometimes 2-3 months after birth, which indicates natural causes that influenced its increase.

How can you reduce cholesterol?

By following your doctor's recommendations, monitoring your diet, undergoing tests and donating blood to control cholesterol levels, you can quickly reduce the high level of fat-like organic compounds in pregnant women. When reducing high cholesterol concentrations, it is important not to forget about the safety of the mother and her baby.

During this period, it is highly undesirable to use medications. An increased level of an organic compound can only cause harm if it is in excess. The use of medicines and folk remedies should be moderate so as not to cause severe stress to the body during a difficult period.

Is it possible to normalize the level without medications?

To reduce cholesterol, experts advise eliminating from the diet:

• fatty foods;
• fried foods and pickles;
• sweets (cakes, sweets, pastries, croissants and buns);
• butter;
• Palm oil;
• fast foods;
• sausages and pates;
• semi-finished products;
• pork

Physical exercise can help balance the balance of bad and good cholesterol. During pregnancy you can do:

• aerobics;
• fitness;
• yoga;
• special gymnastics;
• swimming.

Physical activity will help normalize lipid metabolism and reduce weight. Green tea, freshly squeezed fruit juice, fruits, and vegetable juice can have a beneficial effect on the metabolic process and reduce the level of fat-like organic compounds.

Very often, during a difficult pregnancy, severe toxicosis and weakness, a woman least of all thinks about the recommendations of specialists. Snacking on your favorite food on the go, it involuntarily increases cholesterol in the blood even more. And this causes an increase in the frequency of vomiting and unpleasant painful sensations in the abdominal area.

The main part of cholesterol in a pregnant woman is synthesized independently in the body. Excess compounds come precisely from eating junk food. While carrying a baby, it is unacceptable to eat too much. It is best to eat in small, fractional portions.

The basis of the diet should be foods containing omega-3 and omega-6. Such foods include sea fish, flax seeds, and flaxseed oil. By following simple rules, you can prevent the development of pathologies when carrying a child, keep your weight and cholesterol levels under control.

How to lower cholesterol without taking medications?

If in normal situations special medications are prescribed to normalize indicators - statins, then they are contraindicated during pregnancy. This is especially important in the second trimester, when the baby is actively developing. The only way to bring high cholesterol back to normal is to follow a strict diet with the exclusion of harmful foods.

• Completely eliminate fatty, fried, salty foods from your diet.
• Limit the consumption of carbohydrates and various sweets, especially industrially produced ones. This includes cakes, pastries, chocolates. Instead, it is better to give preference to dried fruits - dried apricots, prunes, raisins, dates, but only on condition that you do not have allergic reactions to these products.
• If your doctor allows, you can do simple exercises every day.
• Never overeat. Divide the daily menu into 5-6 times.
• Follow the basics and principles of healthy eating. Most often, dietary nutrition is selected for each woman individually, depending on the characteristics of her body and the course of pregnancy.
• It is recommended to cook fatty varieties of sea fish more often. It contains an abundance of polyunsaturated valuable Omega acids, which are very important for a pregnant woman.
• Cholesterol quickly returns to normal if you include a large amount of fiber in your diet every day. It is found in cereals, fresh vegetables and fruits. Fiber removes excess bad cholesterol from the body.

Why is control needed?

It is important to keep serum cholesterol levels under control. The increase in the level of the compound should be within reasonable limits so as not to provoke the development of complications.

An excessive increase in the fat-like organic compound can cause a decrease in the strength of the expectant mother’s blood vessels and an increase in blood viscosity. As a result, the baby develops heart defects and liver and kidney diseases. Therefore, it is so important to keep cholesterol levels under control and record their dynamics.

You should immediately seek help from your doctor if:

• a sharp increase in the percentage of fat-like organic compounds by more than 2 times;
• deterioration of health;
• frequent migraines;
• systematic prolonged attacks of nausea in the last months of pregnancy;
• high blood pressure;
• pain in the neck, heart and collarbone.

A specialist will help you find out the reason for the increase in the substance in the blood and take measures to reduce cholesterol. If you ignore unpleasant symptoms, a pregnant woman may experience complications such as the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, the development of varicose veins, difficulties in bearing a child, the risk of premature birth or termination of pregnancy.

Why control is necessary

High cholesterol during pregnancy can negatively affect the health of the child, who is then at risk of developing cardiovascular disease. In order for the baby to be born strong, you need to follow the doctor’s recommendations and take blood tests for biochemistry in a timely manner.

The health of a pregnant woman with high cholesterol is also at risk, since an indicator exceeding the norm means an increased concentration of blood viscosity and a decrease in the strength of blood vessels.

Due to the fact that cholesterol in the body is necessary to participate in the most important processes of restructuring the body during pregnancy, its deficiency is as harmful as its excess. First of all, lack of cholesterol can play a fatal role for the fetus. Insufficient conditions for the development of a child in the womb can provoke premature birth, deterioration of a woman’s well-being: weakening of memory and attention.

Prevention and treatment

As a preventative measure, experts recommend paying attention to your own diet, which should be based on seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables. For prevention purposes, it is better to completely avoid coffee drinks and minimize the consumption of eggs, fried foods and sweets.

If proper nutrition does not help reduce the level of fat-like organic compounds, you should consult with your doctor, who will select special medications and prescribe a course of therapy.

High cholesterol during pregnancy requires careful attention, although it is the norm. As soon as unpleasant symptoms begin to bother you, you should immediately take measures to normalize the concentration level of this substance, which will help avoid unpleasant consequences for both the expectant mother and the child.

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High cholesterol during pregnancy. Should it be reduced?

Carrying a child is a difficult and responsible period in a woman’s life, which is accompanied by changes in the functioning of all organs and systems. In particular, in the first trimester of pregnancy, an increase in cholesterol levels is observed. This is due to the fact that there is active division and growth of new cells of the placenta and fetus, which need cholesterol - the main building material necessary for the production of hormones, vitamins and many other processes.

If your cholesterol is increased by no more than 2 times during pregnancy, this is not a pathology, but only a physiological process caused by the formation of a new life.

Low level

Very rarely there are situations when, during analysis, it is discovered that cholesterol is reduced. Its noticeable drop occurs with severe toxicosis in the 1st and 2nd trimester, severe starvation, and hyperthyroidism.

In this case, there is a risk of premature birth; the child may have congenital defects in the development of individual organs and systems (brain, nervous system, upper and lower extremities), and mental abnormalities.

During pregnancy, women undergo many tests. Once every 3 months it is necessary to take a biochemical test for cholesterol. This indicator is important for pregnancy and fetal development.

Lack of cholesterol leads to negative consequences during pregnancy: memory deteriorates, it becomes more difficult to concentrate, and there is a risk of premature birth.

How does cholesterol change during pregnancy? Why is its increase dangerous for a pregnant woman? How to reduce its performance? Let's highlight these issues.

Normal cholesterol levels during pregnancy

During pregnancy, a biochemical blood test is taken three times, which, among other data, shows the amount of cholesterol. In order to most accurately assess the level of cholesterol in the body, they look at three main indicators:

• Total cholesterol. The normal level of total cholesterol in the blood of pregnant women ranges from 3.07 to 13.8 mmol/l.
• Atherogenic coefficient , that is, the ratio of the concentration of good and “bad” cholesterol. The norm is considered to be indicators from 0.4 to 2.5 units.
• Fatty acid.

Based on cholesterol tests during pregnancy, the norm for women of different ages will differ significantly. Such a big difference between the upper and lower limits is due to the fact that the normal cholesterol level is a rather individual concept and strongly depends on age (since it tends to accumulate in the body, therefore, its level increases with age), gender, the presence of diseases and other factors .

Cholesterol during pregnancy is necessary for the proper development of the fetus, so in the later stages its concentration can increase by one and a half to two times. Below we will consider cases if cholesterol is very high, what to do and what it entails.

Treatment

How to reduce blood cholesterol during pregnancy? Usually, doctors use various medications for this (statins, nicotinic acid, fibrates and others), but all of them are contraindicated for pregnant women due to the penetration of active substances through the placenta into the baby’s body. The safest of them are used in cases where non-drug methods do not help.

Non-drug methods include:

• diet;
• choleretic decoctions.

Both are prescribed only by a doctor, because during pregnancy even some seemingly safe herbs and products are contraindicated for people.

Reasons for increase during pregnancy

During pregnancy, the work of many organs in the body is restructured, including a serious change in hormonal levels and the biochemical picture of the blood, and lipid metabolism is also activated. Cholesterol is necessary for the production of sufficient quantities of necessary hormones, vitamin D, which is needed for the absorption of calcium, this lipid is vital for the formation of the placenta and internal organs of the child.

Therefore, a high level of total cholesterol during pregnancy is not a cause for concern and does not mean a risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. In addition, if severely elevated cholesterol is observed during pregnancy, the reasons may be:

• Hereditary factor
• Age
• Chronic infections and systemic diseases
• Diseases of the kidneys, pancreas and endocrine system
• Lack of growth hormone
• Diabetes

Why does “bad” cholesterol appear?

An excess amount of a fat-like substance in the blood of a pregnant woman is a consequence of an abundant and high-calorie diet, as well as the intensive work of the liver, which accumulates lipids in large quantities. During pregnancy, it is necessary to constantly monitor the concentration of cholesterol in the blood plasma, and if it increases several times, consult a doctor.

Due to its unique chemical properties, the fat-like substance takes an active part in the formation of the placenta. We should not forget that cholesterol (sterol) has a positive effect on the health of the expectant mother. A pregnant woman needs to remember the dangers of excess lipids in the body in order to promptly take the necessary measures to prevent complications.

A low level of lipoproteins in the blood greatly increases the risk of developing vascular disorders and contributes to the appearance of

developmental defects in the fetus.

Usually a pregnant woman is trying to figure out how to reduce high cholesterol levels if the first symptoms of damage to blood vessels and the heart muscle appear.

In this case, the problem can be dealt with with the help of medications and traditional medicine. The following factors contribute to the appearance of complications associated with an increased amount of sterol in the blood:

• obesity;
• alcohol consumption;
• smoking;
• physical inactivity;
• hormonal disorders.

What are the dangers of high and low cholesterol for the body of mother and child?

A cholesterol test in pregnant women, namely a biochemical blood test, must be taken every three months . This is necessary in order to promptly detect excess cholesterol, which can lead to serious health problems for the mother and child, such as abnormalities in the development of the cardiovascular system.

Increased cholesterol in pregnant women by more than 2-2.5 times means that the blood becomes more viscous and the blood vessels more fragile. The risk of premature birth and placental abruption also increases. The consequence of an increase in LDL, which is not treated, is atherosclerosis and pregnancy, and the successful bearing of a healthy child is at risk.

Low cholesterol levels, just like high ones, are a signal that something is going wrong in the pregnant woman’s body. A decrease in low-density lipoproteins can provoke premature onset of labor, abruption of a normally located placenta, as well as deviations in the development of the child, deterioration in the mother’s performance and well-being, memory impairment, and others. You can ask your doctor for more information about the symptoms and consequences.

Cholesterol levels and its effect on pregnancy

Cholesterol is a fat-like substance, one of the components of cell membranes, 80% is produced by the human body (mainly the liver), and the remaining 20% ​​is synthesized from consumed foods.

From the moment of conception, the body of a pregnant woman undergoes certain changes, preparing for new conditions - bearing a child. In pregnant women, the hormonal system is restructured, the blood composition and fat metabolism change, which is necessary for the normal course of pregnancy.

Often, due to changes in lipid metabolism, women are diagnosed with elevated cholesterol in the blood, which is considered normal within certain limits. The liver produces it in greater quantities, the level increases significantly.

An increase in the indicator makes the blood more viscous, the condition of the mother’s blood vessels worsens, and intrauterine development and nutrition of the fetus are disrupted . High cholesterol can provoke pathologies of the infant’s cardiovascular system, complications in the functioning of the kidneys, and the thyroid gland of a pregnant woman.

In order to notice changes in a timely manner, the woman does tests several times over 9 months.