My kidneys got cold during pregnancy - what to do?

This is due to two reasons:

decreased tone of the urinary tract and a simultaneous increase in the amount of fluid that needs to be filtered; an increased water content is necessary for the normal development of the baby - it delivers nutrients to him, and the amniotic fluid in which the baby floats is formed from it.

The decrease in tone is associated with increased synthesis of the hormone progesterone. In turn, such a hormonal surge can provoke swelling and infections. That is why the expectant mother faces a lot of inconveniences associated with the excretory system.

Frequent visits to the toilet

Starting from the very first months of pregnancy, you may be bothered by frequent urination. In the first trimester, this is due to sudden hormonal changes in the body, the presence of progesterone and estrogens, which cause oversaturation of the pelvic organs with blood and, as a result, increased fluid secretion. If when visiting the toilet you do not feel a burning sensation and there are no other unpleasant sensations, then there is no need to worry. In the second trimester, everything more or less returns to normal, but in the third you will have to run again - this time due to the fact that the enlarged uterus puts pressure on the bladder. Fortunately, at this time the finish line is just around the corner, so you need to be patient and wait. What can really interfere in recent months is involuntary urination, which occurs when coughing, fast walking or any exertion. This phenomenon is unpleasant, but natural; it is also caused by the pressure of the growing fetus on the internal organs.

What to do?

›› Try to empty your bladder more often - at least once every 2 hours.

›› Use special daily urological pads that absorb small amounts of urine well and neutralize unpleasant odor.

›› Do Kegel exercises regularly, which will not only allow you to learn to control the process of urination, but also prepare the perineal muscles for childbirth. We offer you the simplest option. Sit on a chair, take a comfortable position. Try to squeeze the muscles of the perineum (imagine that you are holding urination), try to pull them up and hold in this position for at least 8-10 seconds. Breathing is calm. Then relax the muscles of the perineum. Repeat 5 times every day. During the day you can do 2-3 approaches. Gradually, you will learn to perform exercises while standing, which will be very useful to you after childbirth.

Lower back pain The growing uterus puts pressure on the kidneys and other organs, which can lead to pain in the lower back from the second trimester.

What to do?

›› Massage the sacrum and lower back with a tennis ball. Roll the ball forcefully with your palm, trying to knead the painful areas, or better yet, ask your husband to do this.

›› Try using a large inflatable ball - a fitball - instead of a chair. Sitting on it allows you to unload the ligaments and relax the lower back.

›› Swimming and yoga are good for relieving lower back pain. You can easily practice one of the cat-cow yoga asanas at home. Get on all fours, hands shoulder-width apart, fingers pointing forward, knees hip-width apart. As you inhale, bend your spine down and tilt your head up (cat position). As you exhale, round your spine upward, lower your head and look at your navel (cow position). The movement is smooth, the head rises and falls last. You can gradually increase the speed. This exercise is good to perform at any stage of pregnancy.

Swelling In the last trimester, you may be bothered by swelling of your feet, hands, and face, especially after sleep. If they are minor, there is no need to worry. The most you will have to deal with is giving up rings and changing shoes. If you have gained significant weight due to edema, protein is found in your urine, and you are concerned about high blood pressure, this is a good reason for medical supervision. All of the above is a sign of gestosis - a severe complication of pregnancy. To avoid this situation, try to keep your kidney function normal.

What to do?

›› Drink enough liquid - at least 1.5 liters per day. Remember that even if edema occurs, you cannot limit your water intake. Otherwise, the body will try to retain it, and the swelling will increase. Accordingly, the load on the kidneys will increase. Stagnation and concentration of urine can lead to infection.

›› Avoid sugary carbonated drinks, spicy and overly salty condiments, which can irritate the urinary tract. Avoid large amounts of coffee and black tea, try to get used to herbal teas with a bit of honey and cranberry juice, which helps restore kidney health.

The risk of infections is due to the fact that during pregnancy, hormonal levels, the microflora of the urinary tract and the density of their membranes change greatly - all this contributes to the penetration of infection. While waiting for the baby, two extremely unpleasant diseases may lie in wait for you.

* Cystitis is infection and inflammation of the mucous membranes of the bladder. The most common sign of a bladder infection is a burning sensation when urinating. The urine has a strong and unpleasant odor, sometimes it can include blood and mucus, the woman is bothered by a feeling of heaviness or spasmodic pain in the lower abdomen, and a false urge to urinate. In acute cases, an increase in temperature is possible.

Prevention rules

Many pregnant women with kidney problems are at high risk of getting a urinary tract infection. Newborns of such women are at risk of purulent-septic diseases, so they need special care.

In order to prevent renal pathologies or to prevent exacerbation of existing chronic disorders, women should adhere to the following recommendations:

• control drinking regime and follow a diet;
• maintain an active lifestyle, including walks before bed and exercise for pregnant women;
• monitor timely emptying of the bladder;
• Avoid hypothermia and dress appropriately for the weather.

A woman whose pregnancy test shows a positive result must understand the seriousness of the situation. At the slightest painful symptoms during urination, frequent urges, suspicious discharge and other disturbances in the functioning of the genitourinary system, it is better for her to notify the doctor and begin treatment. Making presumptive diagnoses for yourself, much less self-medicating, is categorically not recommended.

Kidney pathology often occurs during pregnancy, because pregnancy itself predisposes to the development of these diseases or exacerbation of pre-existing chronic processes.

The main reasons for changes in the urinary system during pregnancy:

1. Changes in hormonal levels (increased synthesis of progesterone, estrogens, glucocorticoids, human chorionic gonadotropin);
2. Weakening of the ligamentous apparatus of the kidney, which leads to the development of its pathological mobility;
3. Changes in topographic-anatomical relationships due to an increase in the size of the uterus and its deviation to the right side. In this regard, a lot of pressure is placed on the area of ​​the right kidney;
4. Decreased tone and contractions of the ureters from the second trimester of pregnancy.

The most common diseases of the urinary system during pregnancy include:

1. Pyelonephritis;
2. Glomerulonephritis;
3. Urolithiasis disease;
4. Asymptomatic bacteriuria.

What to do?

It is much easier to prevent the development of cystitis than to treat it later. To do this: ✓ Use a special foam for intimate hygiene so as not to disturb the microflora of the vagina and urethra. ✓ Do not overcool the kidney and pelvic area. ✓ Drink more fluids so that the mucous membranes of the urinary tract are well washed. At the same time, avoid coffee, citrus juices and carbonated drinks, which have an irritating effect on the mucous membranes.

* Pyelonephritis is an infectious inflammation of the kidneys. If the disease occurs for the first time during pregnancy, it is called “gestational pyelonephritis” or “pyelonephritis of pregnant women.” Women with pyelonephritis are at high risk for pregnancy complications such as miscarriage, gestosis, intrauterine infection and fetal growth retardation. The most dangerous complication is acute renal failure - a condition in which the kidneys completely or partially stop functioning. The risk of encountering this disease increases by the third trimester. During this period, the volume of the kidneys in a pregnant woman increases several times. Up to 150 ml of urine can accumulate in the kidneys instead of the required three to five - this stagnation, in turn, can lead to infection. In addition to physiological predisposition, pyelonephritis in pregnant women can be caused by poor personal hygiene, because one of its pathogens, E. coli, can penetrate the urethra from the anus.

Acute pyelonephritis begins with an increase in temperature to 38–40°C, chills, headache and pain in the extremities. Severe signs of intoxication (nausea, vomiting) are accompanied by lower back pain, aggravated by breathing.

How to treat cold kidneys for pregnant women

First, be sure to seek qualified help. Treatment should be comprehensive, with elimination of the root cause and symptomatic therapy. The doctor may prescribe antibiotics if the cause of the inflammation is a bacterial infection. In this case, the treatment will be carried out under the supervision of a doctor.

You cannot prescribe antibiotics yourself! This could be fatal!

Pregnant women should definitely be attentive to their health, avoid hypothermia, and avoid visiting busy crowded places during unfavorable periods of exacerbations of respiratory and cold diseases, influenza epidemics and acute respiratory viral infections.

Strengthening preventive courses of treatment for diseases of the urinary system should be taken if the patient has chronic kidney disease, especially if pregnancy is planned.

During pregnancy, various health problems can arise. But most often it is the kidneys that fail, especially the right one. Even if they have never given a woman any trouble, disturbances in their functioning may occur during pregnancy. Why do the kidneys hurt during pregnancy, how dangerous is it and what to do about it?

What to do?

Treatment of pyelonephritis is prescribed by a doctor depending on the tests and the course of the disease, is carried out inpatiently in the department of pathology of pregnant women in the maternity hospital and lasts 4–6 weeks. A urine culture is required to identify microflora and determine its sensitivity to antibiotics, a general and biochemical blood test, as well as an ultrasound of the kidneys. It is worth noting that with a favorable course of pregnancy and successful treatment of the disease, natural childbirth is indicated (in the absence of medical indications for cesarean section) - with a cesarean section there is a high probability of infection.

Why are urine tests needed? The expectant mother receives a referral for them every month. This frequency is by no means reinsurance, because based on the color, presence of sediment, and biochemistry of urine, the doctor can draw a conclusion about the state of the excretory system. Based on the results of the analysis, inflammation and various dysfunctions of the kidneys and bladder are diagnosed. ✿ The relative density of urine, or its specific gravity, normally ranges from 1010 to 1025 g/l. An increase in this figure may depend on the presence of protein in the urine - this is one of the signs that the kidneys are not coping with the load. This phenomenon is called “nephropathy”; it is most often accompanied by edema and high blood pressure and requires increased attention from a doctor. ✿ The acidity of urine usually depends on the nature of the diet: for example, vegetarians have a reaction closer to alkaline. The norm ranges from 4.5 to 8. An increase in pH may indicate kidney pathology, a decrease - a violation of potassium metabolism or early toxicosis. ✿ An increased number of leukocytes may indicate an inflammatory process in the kidneys, in particular pyelonephritis in pregnant women.

Asymptomatic bacteriuria

Asymptomatic bacteriuria is a condition in which a woman’s urine contains a certain number of microorganisms that exceed normal values, in the complete absence of clinical symptoms. The number of microorganisms must exceed 100,000 in 1 ml of urine in two subsequent urine tests.

When diagnosing this condition, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive examination of the woman to exclude diseases of the urinary system:

1. General blood analysis;
2. General urine analysis;
3. Culture of urine for flora;
4. Urinalysis according to Nechiporenko;
5. Urinalysis according to Zimnitsky;
6. Ultrasound of the urinary system.

To prevent possible infectious complications, it is necessary to treat with antibacterial drugs, taking into account the possible risk to the fetus.