quick clicks

pregnancy today articles

pregnancy today q&a

message boards

research baby names

prepare a birth plan

content channels

ip channel rss feeds

read birth stories

read parenting stories

recommended books

e-newsletters

safety recalls

ip diaries

ip store

mom of the month

dad of the month

editor's letter

letters to the editor

Kidney Stones While Expecting

Diagnosing and Treating during Pregnancy

By Sue Poremba

There are three main reasons why a woman should know she has a kidney stone and why it should be treated: pain, the chance of a preterm birth and the risk of kidney infection.

The kidney infection is the most serious of these issues. "If the kidney is not draining due to the stone, it can cause an infection, including a change of blood pressure that can be a risk for the fetus because the body begins to care for the mother first," says Dr. Portis. Having a kidney infection during pregnancy also can lead the fetus to be born prematurely. So it is especially important for a pregnant woman to be treated for the kidney stones whenever possible.

However, a pregnant woman must be treated differently than non-pregnant women. In an ordinary case of kidney stones, doctors would use a treatment called lithotripsy, which is a non-surgical treatment that sends extracorporeal shock waves into the body. But this procedure is not possible for pregnant women for two reasons. First, doctors would prefer to avoid using anesthesia for a pregnant woman whenever possible, and second, doctors are unsure what effect the shock waves have on a fetus.

Instead, pregnant women are usually given a urethral stent to aid in passing the kidney stone. "The stent is a tube inserted from the bladder to the kidney," explains Jonathan Masel, a urologist based in Hollywood, Fla. "The stent allows the urine to get past the stone, relieving the blockage and relieving the pain." Because stents gather a lot of calcium, they need to be changed every six to eight weeks. If the pregnant woman is near the end of her term, a stent is probably the best way to go because it will not likely need to be replaced.

Another option is to use a nephroscopic tube, which is inserted into the back through a small incision. Attached to the tube is a small, external bag for drainage. It can be awkward to maneuver with the bag on the back, but it is also less invasive, especially if the kidney stones must be monitored for a long period of time.

Masel says between 60 to 80 percent of pregnant women will pass the kidney stones on their own. If it doesn't happen during the pregnancy, she can pursue a surgical procedure after the baby is born.

Want to see more?

• A Major Pain: Migraine Headaches and Pregnancy
• The Time is Now: 10 Tips to Keep Healthy During Your Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Gingivitis: An Avoidable Condition
• Talk about it!