Kidney Stones And Pregnancy
Kidney stones and pregnancy pains may sometimes be difficult to distinguish when you are expecting, as both can cause abdominal and lower back pain. Developing kidney stones during pregnancy is not very common, but some women are more susceptible to it than others. The good news is that the stone itself is of no danger to your baby. However, dealing with the pain can sometimes be a challenge for the expectant mother.
Why Do Pregnant Women Get Kidney Stones?
In most cases a pregnant woman will not develop kidney stones at all throughout her pregnancy. As stated earlier it is really quite rare that a woman will develop kidney stones when she is expecting, as only one out of every 1500 pregnancies is affected by this condition.
However, women are more likely to develop a kidney stone while they are pregnant because their kidneys do not deal with calcium as efficiently as normal.
What Are The Symptoms Of A Kidney Stone?
- intense pain in the lower back, abdomen and groin area
- blood in the urine
- pain when you urinate
- nausea and vomiting
In some cases the stone may be so small that you may not experience any of these symptoms at all.
How Are Kidney Stones Treated In Pregnant Women?
A pregnant woman who develops a kidney stone will more than likely do so in the latter stages of her pregnancy. This is why most doctors will take a wait and see approach with the treatment methods. Most doctors will generally recommend that the expectant mother starts drinking more water and to also reduce her intake of calcium. She may also be told to take Tylenol to help manage the pain.
In some cases your doctor may opt to use a ureteroscopy to help break up the stone. A ureteroscopy is thought to be safe for pregnant women, but it is usually not the preferred method of treatment. Many doctors like to be as conservative as possible with an expectant mother who has a kidney stone and will usually try to put off this type of procedure until the baby is born.
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