Kidney congestion & pregnancy
Dr. rer. nat. Daniela Oesterle is a molecular biologist, human geneticist and trained medical editor. As a freelance journalist, she writes texts on health topics for experts and laypeople and edits specialist scientific articles by doctors in German and English. She is responsible for the publication of certified advanced training courses for medical professionals for a renowned publishing house.
More about the experts All content is checked by medical journalists.Severe abdominal pain, usually on the right, suggests kidney congestion. Pregnancy is often accompanied by a slight congestion of urine in the urinary tract and kidneys, but this is usually harmless. However, the risk of urinary tract infections increases and - if the outflow of urine is completely inhibited - dangerous kidney congestion. Find out more about kidney congestion, urinary tract infections, and when to see a doctor.
Kidney congestion & pregnancy
When urine can no longer flow from the kidney into the bladder, it builds up in the kidneys and causes them to swell. Doctors then speak of kidney congestion (hydronephrosis). It either affects only one kidney or both. Depending on the severity, the symptoms range from a slight pulling in the sides to severe pain, fever, nausea and vomiting. Pain when urinating is also a possible symptom of kidney congestion.
Pregnancy: Physical Changes
The female organism changes enormously during pregnancy. The urinary system is also affected: the amount of body water increases by around 40 percent. The two kidneys, which act as a filter station, have to do more work. The body fluid is filtered in the outer kidney tissue (kidney cortex) and then reaches a collecting tube inside the kidney, the calyx. The calyxes in turn pass the urine on to the renal pelvis, from where it is transported to the urinary bladder via the urinary tract. Ultimately, the urine is excreted from the bladder through the woman's urethra, which is a few centimeters long.
In order to be able to cope with the increased amount of fluid, from the tenth week of pregnancy under the influence of hormones, the kidney calyx, the renal pelvis and the urinary tract dilate. In addition, the peristalsis of the urinary tract becomes slower, i.e. the active muscle movement to remove the urine. All of this makes the urine flow more slowly from the kidneys to the bladder; this is already referred to as a mild form of kidney congestion. It is widespread: up to 90 percent of all expectant mothers have this harmless and symptom-free form of kidney congestion.
Pregnancy: the child puts pressure on the urinary system
The more advanced the pregnancy, the more space the uterus and the growing child require. The two ureters are pressed more or less strongly. The more the urine flow is inhibited, the stronger the kidney congestion - recognizable in the ultrasound by the greatly enlarged kidney calyxes, pelvis and urinary tract. This severe form of kidney congestion occurs in up to three percent of all expectant mothers. It is a little more common in multiple pregnancies.
Both kidneys can be affected by the kidney congestion, but usually the right kidney causes the symptoms. On the one hand, part of the intestine protects the left urinary tract from being crushed. On the other hand, the uterus and a blood vessel on the right side, the ovarian vein, press more heavily on the right urinary tract.
Urinary tract infections from kidney congestion
If the urine flows more slowly, the purifying flushing effect of urine is also reduced. This promotes infections in the urethra. In addition, the so-called glomerular filtration rate of the kidneys is increased during pregnancy, which among other things causes more blood sugar (glucose) to be released into the urine - a suitable breeding ground for bacteria.
Urinary tract infections should be treated, as they can reach the kidneys and lead to (chronic) pelvic inflammation. Other possible consequences of bacteria in the urine include preeclampsia, lower birth weight and premature delivery. Therefore, pregnant women should definitely see a doctor if they suspect a urinary tract infection.
Other causes of kidney congestion
Pregnancy and its changes are not the only possible trigger for kidney congestion. There can also be various diseases and complications behind it, such as:
- Urinary bladder stones
- Kidney stones
- Cancer of the bladder, urinary tract, colon or uterus (neck)
If stones in the urinary system cause severe kidney congestion during pregnancy, doctors treat either with a ureteral splint or a tube inserted through the skin into the kidney. Both treatments drain urine from the kidneys.The inserts can remain in the body until birth, but should be changed regularly.
Kidney congestion & pregnancy: when to see a doctor?
If you have severe flank or abdominal pain, fever, vomiting and nausea or even blood in the urine, you should urgently see a doctor. It could be a kidney congestion.
A slight congestion of the kidney can, however, already indicate if you have the feeling that the bladder is never completely emptied and you have to go to the toilet urgently. Possible signs are also small amounts of urine and no pressure when you urinate and you have to go to the toilet more often at night.
But don't worry too much about kidney congestion. During pregnancy, the attending gynecologist pays great attention to the health of the mother-to-be (and of course the child). In the regular check-ups, he can recognize and treat possible alarm signs at an early stage.
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