Kidney stones are excruciating when you are pregnant. They are more difficult to be diagnosed and treated. During the third trimester, stones can cause preterm labour.
What are kidney stones?
Kidney stones are hard mineral deposits, which can occur in any part of the urinary tract, from kidneys to bladder.
4 reasons why kidney stones are more common in pregnancy
#1 Excessive calcium intake:
While pregnant women are encouraged to increase calcium intake, excessive calcium may cause crystallisation in the kidneys.
#2 Dilation of the urine tract:
This causes an incomplete emptying of the urine that increases the chance of kidney stone formation.
#3 Urinary Tract Infection:
UTI is common and may be due to stones.
#4 Dehydration:
This increases the concentration of minerals like calcium or phosphorous in the urine, causing stones.
How to treat kidney stones during pregnancy?
Medical treatment such as prescribed painkillers relieves the pain. Consider treatment after delivery. However, if the medication fails to control the pain or the kidney stones are threatening labour, surgery may be required.
How to avoid kidney stones in pregnancy?
When you are pregnant, your body needs more fluids, drinking a lot of water keeps kidney stones at bay. And of course, avoid excessive calcium intake. Take 1000 mg a day is sufficient. More is not good!