Low potassium or hypokalemia in pregnancy can be due to its loss from the body through diarrhea or vomiting. Low potassium levels in the blood can be associated with certain symptoms such as muscle cramps, constipation, weakness, and abnormal heart rates since they play vital roles in muscle and nerve functioning and blood pressure regulation (1). You may seek a doctor if you are concerned about the lower potassium levels. Read on to understand the consequences of low potassium levels in pregnancy, how to manage this and when to seek medical care.
What Is The Normal Level Of Potassium In Blood During Pregnancy?
As per a study conducted on healthy pregnant women, the mean serum potassium concentration was found to be 5.65 millimoles per liter (mmol/l). The serum potassium level was 4.25 mmol/l in the first trimester, 5.83 mmol/l in the second trimester, and 5.95 mmol/l in the third trimester, which were considered normal (2). If your serum potassium level falls below the normal level in any phase of your pregnancy, you may develop hypokalemia.
How Does Hypokalemia Affect Your Pregnancy?
Low potassium levels may lead to the following conditions in pregnant women.
Weakness, fatigue, muscle cramps, and constipation (3)
Hypokalemic periodic paralysis, which causes occasional bouts of muscle weakness in the legs, arms, and eyes (4).
Cardiac dysrhythmia, an abnormal rhythm of the heartbeat that may cause cardiac arrest (5).
Causes Of Low Potassium In Pregnancy
Low potassium in pregnancy might occur due to the following factors:
Excessive nausea and vomiting: These can cause an imbalance of fluids and electrolytes, resulting in potassium loss (6).
Use of diuretics to treat high blood pressure: This could result in loss of fluids and urine, resulting in low potassium levels (7).
Use of certain antibiotics: Antibiotics such as gentamicin and carbenicillin could deplete the potassium levels from the body (8).
Increased production of aldosterone: Aldosterone plays a key role in regulating blood pressure during pregnancy. An increase in the level of aldosteroneiXA steroid hormone produced in the adrenal gland that regulates salt and water in the body. due to the hormonal changes during pregnancy could result in potassium excretion (9).
Symptoms Of Hypokalemia In Pregnancy
When the potassium level falls below the average level, you may experience the following signs and symptoms (10).
Edema, mostly in legs and ankles NumbnessiXComplete or partial loss of feeling or sensation in the part of the body. Dizziness High blood pressure Muscle weakness Leg cramps Depression Constipation
Most of these are similar to pregnancy symptoms and can be diagnosed by testing the potassium level in your blood.
Diagnosis Of Hypokalemia In Pregnancy
Your doctor identifies the cause behind the loss of potassium. You may be asked if you recently had diarrhea, vomitings, and heart problems and if you were on antibiotics or diureticsiXAlso called water pills, these medications increase urine production by eliminating salt and water from the body. . If the doctor suspects you are hypokalemic, they may recommend the following tests:
Blood tests to check the potassium level
Blood pressure test as it is affected by hypokalemia ElectrocardiogramiXA display or record of the electrical activity of the heart. (ECG) to check the heartbeat (11)
Treatment For Hypokalemia In Pregnancy
The treatment is usually directed towards replenishing potassium in the body and minimizing further loss.
The treatment depends on the underlying cause. For instance, if the condition is a result of morning sickness, addressing that issue helps. If hypokalemia is caused due to a specific medication, you may be given an alternative medicine.
The doctor may also prescribe potassium supplements, either oral or intravenous (in severe cases).
Your doctor may recommend you to add potassium-rich foods to your diet. Although including potassium foods in your diet could be beneficial, it may be less effective than taking supplements (12).
Food Sources Of Potassium
According to the US National Academy of Medicine, the adequate intake (AI) for potassium in pregnant women ranges between 2,500 and 2,900mg depending on their age (13). You can meet this requirement by eating foods such as beet, greens, baked sweet potatoes, spinach, tomato juice, plain yogurt, orange juice, kidney beans, lentils, winter squash, dried peaches, coconut water, chicken, and salmon. You may check with your doctor or a nutritionist about the servings in the diet.
Can You Prevent Hypokalemia During Pregnancy?
The following measures may help in reducing the risk of hypokalemia.
Include a diet rich in potassium foods. Increase electrolyteiXMinerals in the blood and other body fluids carrying an electric charge. intake. Manage conditions such as diabetes and blood pressure.
Can Low Potassium Levels Cause Miscarriage?
Low potassium levels are not known to cause miscarriage.
