Kidney-Related Health Problems on the Rise During Pregnancy

During pregnancy, one of women's most special periods, numerous changes occur in the body all at once. Closely monitoring these changes and taking necessary precautions are extremely important for the health of both mother and baby. Stating that the kidneys are the first organ to undergo changes during pregnancy, Prof. Dr. Gülçin Kantarcı, Nephrology Specialist at Yeditepe University Koşuyolu Hospital, said: "During pregnancy, the kidneys change first. Kidney function, filtration and consequently a person's blood pressure status differ from before pregnancy. For this reason, kidneys should be monitored carefully during pregnancy examinations." To prevent potential problems, in the case of planned pregnancy, urinalysis and blood pressure measurement must be performed beforehand, and it should be checked whether there is any known kidney failure. Prof. Dr. Gülçin Kantarcı shared important information about kidney problems that may arise during pregnancy. Explaining that kidney function, filtration and consequently a person's blood pressure status differ from before pregnancy, Prof. Dr. Gülçin Kantarcı emphasized that kidney disease can develop during pregnancy even in women who had no previous kidney problems.

Hypertension is Commonly Seen During Pregnancy

Stating that the most common kidney-related disorder during pregnancy is high blood pressure during pregnancy (hypertension), Prof. Dr. Gülçin Kantarcı provided the following information: "Generally, blood pressure drops in the first three months. In the second three months, blood pressure begins to return to normal ranges. Another disorder is the intensification of hypertension due to different causes during pregnancy and the development of a disease called preeclampsia. Generally, if hypertension is detected after the 20th week of pregnancy, it could be preeclampsia. These individuals do not have previously known kidney disease or hypertension. It is accompanied by swelling, edema, and protein loss. In some more advanced forms, if it becomes more severe and progresses rapidly, it can lead to seizures. This is called eclampsia and is generally more common in young pregnant women around 20 years of age and in first pregnancies," she said.

Preeclampsia Affects Both Pregnant Woman and Baby

Drawing attention to the fact that high blood pressure is a concern that closely affects both the pregnant woman and the mother, Prof. Dr. Gülçin Kantarcı noted that in the case of protein leakage in urine due to hypertension during pregnancy, serious consequences can occur, ranging from brain hemorrhage to even loss of life for the mother. Additionally, if pregnancy hypertension is not monitored and treated very well, growth restriction or low birth weight delivery can occur in the baby. For this reason, individuals with high blood pressure during pregnancy, preeclampsia and eclampsia should be closely monitored by both an obstetrician and a nephrology specialist. Preeclampsia occurs in approximately 5 percent of all pregnancies. It is generally encountered more frequently in first pregnancies and pregnancies at advanced maternal age.