Baby acidosis

There are many health risks for mother and child during birth. The birth process represents an enormous stress situation which can affect the metabolism and the vital functions of the child’s organs. It is not uncommon for metabolic disorders such as acidosis to occur in the child.

A possible cause is a lack of oxygen in the newborn. This can be caused by umbilical cord prolapse or adaptation problems after birth. Due to the baby’s lack of oxygen, lactate is produced in the cells of the body as an alternative source of energy to maintain vital body processes.

Lactate can cause severe damage in numerous organs and tissues. The central nervous system suffers the most, in the worst case irreversible brain damage occurs. Babies can usually tolerate much more extreme pH values than adults. Up to a pH value of 7.2, babies have no reason to worry.

Acidosis in urine

Acidosis in urine is not unusual in principle and is not a cause for concern. The pH-value in the urine is subject to strong fluctuations and is only partially related to the body’s metabolic processes. While acidosis in the blood should be treated, acidosis in the urine can subside of its own accord within a short period of time and does not represent a disease value.

The pH value in the urine is largely subject to nutrition. Animal products such as meat, fish, eggs or cheese can form acids in their metabolism, which are excreted in the urine. Also, due to various natural metabolic processes of the body or to compensate for acidosis in the blood, more acids in the form of protons can be released into the urine.

They are then excreted via the urine. In addition, there is always a certain amount of uric acid in the urine, which is a natural metabolic product of the body. Permanently acidic urine, however, has a slightly increased probability of developing uric acid stones which can block the ureters. In order to treat these ureteral stones, the acidity in the urinary tract can be reduced, for example by adjusting the diet.

Acidosis during fasting

Fasting has a similar effect on the body as an acute diabetic derailment. Extreme fasting can cause the body to suffer an acute lack of energy as the body’s glucose reserves are depleted. As a result, the body attacks the reserves and breaks down fatty tissue, creating so-called “ketone bodies” as an alternative to the glucose molecules as a replacement energy source. This metabolic process can lead to an acidosis with loss of consciousness and a strong smell of acetone as in a diabetic coma. The only difference is that in diabetes there is sufficient glucose, which cannot be absorbed into the body cells due to the lack of insulin.