Introduction:
Pregnancy is a crucial phase in a woman's life because a newborn baby brings joy and happiness. However, pregnancy also puts stress on a female's body. Women with kidney diseases must discuss with the doctor before conceiving to avoid health hazards to the unborn baby. This is because numerous factors influence a healthy pregnancy. Some of them are listed below:
- Stage of kidney disease.
- Age.
- Overall health.
- Other medical conditions.
- Presence of proteins in urine.
Is Pregnancy Safe for Women With Kidney Diseases?
Yes, pregnancy is considered safe for women with kidney diseases, but before considering pregnancy, it is important to discuss it with healthcare professionals. The patient's health will be evaluated based on their health; they will give their suggestion. There are many things to consider before pregnancy.
Some things that can affect a healthy pregnancy can include:
-
General health.
-
Age.
-
The stage of kidney disease.
-
Have received a kidney transplant.
-
Having other conditions, high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart disease
-
Having other serious health conditions.
-
Presence of protein in the urine.
Is It Important to Get Medical Advice Before Pregnancy if a Patient Has Kidney Disease?
If a person with kidney disease plans to get pregnant, it is important to get prior advice from medical professionals to help optimize health. This is because kidney disease can increase the risk of fetal complications such as preterm birth and pregnancy loss. Women with moderate to severe kidney disease are highly likely to develop the end-stage renal disease after pregnancy. The existing iron deficiency anemia reduces vitamin D levels, and high blood pressure can also worsen during pregnancy. The doctors can help to normalize the red blood cell, vitamin D, blood sugar, and blood pressure before pregnancy to help reduce risks to the mother and the baby.
What Are the Effects of Kidney Disease on Pregnant Women?
There are three main effects of kidney disease on pregnant women:
-
High Blood Pressure - This can happen at any stage of the pregnancy and can be a consequence of kidney disease.
-
Preeclampsia - It commonly occurs in the second half of pregnancy and causes protein in the urine and high blood pressure. It is normally mild, but at times it can be severe too. Chronic kidney disease can increase preeclampsia risk in pregnant women. The symptoms may include severe headaches, blurred vision, or seeing flashing lights. There may be edema of the hands, feet, or face. During prenatal checkups, blood pressure measurements and urine analysis to check for protein are done routinely. This helps to find out about preeclampsia early.
-
Worsening of Kidney Function - The better the kidney function at the beginning of the pregnancy, the lesser the worsening of the kidney. If the protein in the urine is more at the beginning of pregnancy can increase the risk of declining kidney function during pregnancy.
Does Kidney Disease Affect the Growing Fetus?
The risk to the baby depends on the severity of the kidney disease. The two main problems affecting the baby are intrauterine growth retardation and premature growth. Intrauterine growth retardation can be due to poor kidney function, preeclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy), and the underlying causes of kidney disease. This occurs when the baby's supply of food and oxygen through the placenta is reduced. It can lead to difficulties in the newborn period, long-term health problems for the baby, and in extreme cases, the baby may not survive.
The baby's weight will be less than expected for its gestational age. Their growth will return to normal when feeding is fully established. Intrauterine growth retardation can cause long-term side effects like long-term malnutrition and higher rates of cardiovascular disease in the future.
The second problem is premature growth; babies born before 32 weeks often have breathing problems.
They require close monitoring, extra oxygen, specific treatment to expand their lungs, and sometimes artificial ventilation. Premature babies are at risk of serious infections, brain damage, feeding difficulties, intestinal problems, and visual problems, which can cause long-term disabilities in children.
Is Pregnancy Recommended for Women on Dialysis?
Pregnancy for dialysis patients is considered a high-risk pregnancy, so it is not usually recommended. It is because healthy kidneys work all day, but hemodialysis is done in centers for only about 12 hours per week to replace a portion of kidney function. There will be more waste products in the blood of a person undergoing dialysis than in a body with good kidney function. So the collection of extra waste in the body makes it difficult for the baby to develop as it should.
During pregnancy, the amount of blood in a mother's body will be more, and the baby releases wastes into the mother's bloodstream, so a healthy kidney works overtime to keep the blood clean. So, if a woman whose kidneys do not work, pregnancy is harder on her body, and more frequent dialysis is recommended to keep the blood as clean as possible. So, If a kidney failure person becomes pregnant, close medical supervision, more dialysis, and a change in medicine to have a healthy baby are required.
In addition, due to changes in the body during dialysis, it is hard to become pregnant. That is because, during dialysis, most women will have anemia (a low red blood cell count) and hormonal changes, which may interrupt menstruation and give irregular periods.
Is It Possible to Get Pregnant After a Kidney Transplant?
Yes. Having a baby is possible after a kidney transplant. After a kidney transplant, the menstrual period will be regular and good general health. But pregnancy is not advised for at least one year after the transplant, even if the kidney function is stable. Some medicines taken after a kidney transplant can affect the developing baby.
Pregnancy might not be recommended in such cases because it can cause complications for the mother and the baby, and there is a high risk of transplant rejection. It is necessary to discuss this with the healthcare provider before getting pregnant. The healthcare provider might change the medications to be safe for both the baby and the mother. It is also very important to use birth control until the healthcare provider has agreed that it is safe to become pregnant.
Conclusion
Women with well-maintained kidney disease and normal blood pressure can have a pregnancy with no adverse effect on the baby and no complications for the mother. It is important to take advice from medical experts before becoming pregnant. They may modify the drug intake and frequently monitor the health of the mother and the baby to avoid complications.
