5 common kidney health issues seen in expectant mothers

Being pregnant is a joyful experience, but a woman has to face many challenges during pregnancy, which include kidney problems. These two bean-shaped organs work actively to filter waste products from the blood and maintain fluid balance. During pregnancy, kidneys are under extra pressure due to increased blood volume and waste products from both the mother and fetus. Some kidney problems that occur in pregnant women are as follows:

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs): It is one of the infections that women suffer from. The main cause of UTI is bacteria entering the urethra through the anus and infecting the urinary tract. A woman's prolonged UTI infection can lead to pyelonephritis, a serious kidney infection that can lead to an increase in premature deliveries.

Gestational hypertension: High blood pressure that occurs during pregnancy is known as gestational hypertension. It is important to note that 2 out of every 50 women suffer from this issue. Chronic hypertension occurs when a woman has high blood pressure before becoming pregnant. Which can result in reduced blood flow to the kidneys causing several other problems.

Acute Kidney Injury (AKI): In this condition, kidneys fail to filter waste from the blood which leads to acute kidney failure within hours/days.

Kidney stones: Pregnancy may increase the risk of kidney stones due to hormonal changes and decreased urinary tract fluid flow. It can be very painful and uncomfortable especially if it blocks the flow of urine. Medical treatment may be required to remove kidney stones. By drinking enough water and making changes to diet, kidney stone formation during pregnancy can be prevented.

Preeclampsia: Excess of protein in the urine (also known as Proteinuria) after 20 weeks of pregnancy is an indication of a dangerous condition known as preeclampsia. It can affect kidney function and result in issues such as kidney damage and eclampsia (seizures). To prevent complications from getting worse, close monitoring, adequate sleep, and reduction in caffeine and sodium intake are required. These are the most effective ways to avoid preeclampsia.


Expectant mothers should be careful about kidney health during pregnancy to lower the risk of complications. Regular prenatal care is essential for the early detection and treatment of any kidney-related issues. This involves keeping an eye on kidney function, blood pressure, and urine protein levels.

(Author: Dr Puja Sharma, Consultant Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Rosewalk Healthcare, Delhi)