Pregnant women can determine if acidosis is occurring by the following
Symptoms: fatigue, weakness, nausea, vomiting, thirst and excessive drinking, decreased blood pressure, headache, exhaled breath smelling like rotten apples, and in severe cases, drowsiness and coma.
Examination: Laboratory tests such as routine haematology, erythrocyte count and haemogas analysis are performed on admission and show a decrease in pH and an increase in H+ concentration.
The type of acidosis can be determined as metabolic or respiratory based on changes in specific AB (actual bicarbonate), SB (standard bicarbonate) and BB (buffered base) values.