If the urine can no longer flow from the kidney into the bladder, it builds up in the kidneys. As a result, the kidneys swell. The doctor speaks of a kidney congestion or hydroneophrosis. A Kidney congestion during pregnancy can sometimes have dangerous consequences for the unborn child.
What is kidney congestion?
If the pregnant woman complains of very severe abdominal pain, which is mainly localized on the right side, it is often a so-called kidney congestion. During pregnancy, slight urinary congestion can occur again and again, which is reflected primarily in the urinary tract and kidneys. That is usually harmless.
However, this increases the risk of a urinary tract infection. If the outflow of urine is completely blocked, the result is a not harmless kidney congestion. One Kidney congestion during pregnancy is a serious matter.
The symptoms are different. Pregnant women sometimes only complain of slight pulling, which can also cause severe pain, nausea, fever or vomiting. Even urinating can cause severe pain.
Causes of kidney congestion during pregnancy
The causes are varied. Due to the fact that the female organism changes greatly, the urinary system is also affected by pregnancy. The amount of water in the body increases by 40 percent. For this reason, the kidneys, which act as a classic filter station, have a lot more work to do.
The body fluid is filtered in the area of the outer kidney tissue (the kidney cortex) and subsequently transported into the kidney through a so-called collecting tube. In the calyx, the urine is passed on to the renal pelvis; from there the draining urine is transferred to the urinary bladder. Then the urine is converted into urine and gets out of the woman's body - from the bladder via the urethra.
However, since the significantly increased amount of fluid can be managed, the calyxes, the renal pelvis and the urinary tract must stretch as early as the 10th week of pregnancy. Furthermore, the peristalsis of the urinary tract becomes significantly more sluggish, so that the muscle movement for urinary evacuation is “restricted” or “relaxed”.
All of these factors work together to make urine much slower. This aspect is already described as "slight kidney congestion". 90 percent of all pregnant women are affected. However, this type is a harmless form that is also free from complaints.
If the pregnancy is at an advanced stage, the growing child needs more space so that the uterus grows too. The ureters are then severely squeezed. The more the urine flow is inhibited or impaired, the more severe the kidney congestion will be. Three percent of all pregnant women are affected by this type of kidney congestion.
It should be noted that both kidneys can be affected. Statistically, however, only the right kidney causes more symptoms. This is because the left kidney or the left urinary tract is protected by the intestine and the uterus mainly presses on the right side.
If the urine flows slowly as a result, the so-called flushing effect, which has a cleansing aspect, is also reduced. Due to the reduced flushing effect, infections in the urethra are favored. In addition, the so-called glomerular filtration rates are significantly increased, so that significantly more glucose (blood sugar) is released into the urine. Another reason infection - glucose is a wonderful breeding ground for bacteria - is possible.
It is important that the urinary tract infections are treated. Sometimes untreated infections can rise directly into the kidneys and subsequently cause chronic pelvic inflammation. Sometimes bacteria in the urine are also responsible for causing preeclampsia.
A low birth weight of the child or a premature delivery can also be triggered. For this reason, it is important that the pregnant woman see a doctor if she suspects a urinary tract infection. Other causes include urinary bladder stones, kidney stones or even cervical cancer, colon cancer, bladder cancer or urinary tract cancer.
When is a doctor's visit due?
If the pregnant woman complains of severe flank pain or abdominal pain or if there is fever, nausea and vomiting or if there is blood in the urine, a doctor should be contacted immediately. All of those symptoms suggest kidney congestion.
If there is even a suspicion, a doctor should also be contacted - to be sure - who will examine the pregnant woman to determine whether there is a kidney congestion or whether another disease is responsible for the symptoms.
If the pregnant woman has the feeling that her bladder has never been completely emptied, the first sign of kidney congestion may already be given. Occasionally, low pressure when urinating or only little urine, but also frequent nocturnal urination, can indicate kidney congestion.
Prevention of kidney congestion during pregnancy
Pregnant women should not, however, constantly worry that they will soon suffer kidney congestion; Not even if the first signs (nocturnal urge to urinate, the feeling that the bladder has never been completely emptied) have appeared.
Since pregnant women keep going to the doctor for check-ups and the doctor makes sure that everything is in the normal range, it can be assumed that any early signs will be treated immediately and that acute or severe kidney congestion cannot occur. In many cases, pregnant women do not notice that they have mild kidney congestion.
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