During the period of carrying the baby, the mother's body should work without failures. This applies to all internal organs. However, sometimes the work of the kidneys is impaired or chronic pathologies associated with the functioning of the genitourinary system are found in the fair sex.
The doctors are also concerned about the presence of nephropathy in pregnant women. Treatment in Moscow and other large cities is much more effective. If we are talking about smaller villages, then in this case, specialists can not always provide the lady with the necessary assistance. This is due to the fact that an ailment of this type must be diagnosed in a timely manner. If you delay the treatment of nephropathy in pregnant women, then this is fraught with the death of the fetus, and in some situations, of the woman herself. Therefore, it will be useful for everyone to learn about the main symptoms of this pathology and methods of its treatment.
Causes of occurrence
Today, doctors can not say exactly why this disease develops in the fair sex during the gestation of the baby. However, there is a theory according to which nephropathy occurs against the background of violations of certain mechanisms responsible for the adaptation of the future mother's body to pregnancy. Moreover, such failures occur even at the earliest possible dates, in the process of implantation of the fetus into the walls of the uterus. It is worth considering that this process has not yet been fully studied, so it is very difficult to determine exactly what causes nephropathy in pregnant women.
Nevertheless, it is known that due to such failures, the uterine arteries cannot develop properly. Because of this, they cannot deliver oxygen to the fetus, which leads to rather disastrous consequences. Arterial spasm occurs, resulting in hypoxia in the baby.
In addition, with the occurrence of nephropathy in pregnant women, women almost always suffer from violations in the renal system. Because of this, multiple minor hemorrhages occur in the parenchyma. Due to such changes, the work of the kidneys is very difficult.
Despite the fact that even in the most qualified clinics nephropathy in pregnant women has not yet been studied, specialists have data on risk factors for the development of this ailment. First of all, we are talking about metabolic disorders. Accordingly, increased caution should be exercised by those who suffer from obesity, diabetes mellitus and other pathologies. Also, the development of nephropathy can be predicted if a woman has kidney disease. Caution should also be given to those who suffer from hypertension, diseases of the cardiovascular system and anemia.
It will also be useful to consider the classification of nephropathy in pregnant women and the stage of development of this dangerous pathology.
Preclinical
At the very initial stage, when the gestational age does not exceed 16 weeks, a woman's blood and urine tests may change. This is the first and only sign of the development of preclinical nephropathy. No other symptoms that could confuse the expectant mother are usually observed. A woman can feel good and not even realize the danger that lies in wait for her.
Swelling
A more obvious ailment becomes approximately from the 20th week of bearing the baby. In this case, a sign of nephropathy in pregnant women is precisely increased swelling. However, this condition also manifests itself during hormonal changes in the body or due to the fact that the walls of the vessels become too thin. All this complicates the diagnosis of the disease.
If we are talking about the accumulation of excess fluid, characteristic of nephropathy, then in this case there are several signs that clearly indicate pathology. First of all, it’s worth starting to worry if the woman’s body weight begins to increase by more than 300 g per week. Swollen fingers also become an alarming sign. If a woman removed all the rings from her hands, since they put a lot of pressure, then in this case it is worth contacting a specialist who will confirm or exclude the presence of pathology.
With the further development of this stage of nephropathy in pregnant women, puffiness also begins to affect the woman's ankles and lower legs. In a more severe form, edema can be found on the hips, abdomen and other parts of the body. Some women begin to complain about swelling of the face. Moreover, as a rule, an unpleasant state is aggravated closer to the afternoon. During a night's sleep, the liquid disperses throughout the body, so in the mornings it seems that the swelling has subsided. However, with the onset of the evening, the situation repeats.
It is worth considering that today any manifestation of puffiness is considered an occasion for suspicion of nephropathy. However, some doctors often say that this is a completely normal phenomenon inherent in any lady in position. This statement can be considered true only if problems with the kidneys or other organs have not developed.
Hypertension
In this case, patients have increased blood pressure. Developing hypertension, as a rule, is a harbinger of future kidney problems and, as a consequence, the development of nephropathy.
In this case, a woman's condition may worsen against a background of heart disease. In this case, hypertension will develop much faster and can cause a lot of complications. In this case, it is dangerous not so much the high blood pressure itself, but its fluctuations. If a woman suffers from sudden surges in pressure, then this negatively affects both her health and her baby.
Nephropathy
When diagnosing this stage of the disease directly, we are talking about the development of renal failure. At this stage, it is not difficult to identify the ailment. The main indicator that it is urgently necessary to begin treatment of nephropathy in a pregnant woman at the clinic is that a protein appeared in the woman's urine. In addition, at this stage, the fair sex is much less likely to go to the toilet in a small way. Per day, the volume of urine released can reach up to 500 ml or less.
Possible complications
Incorrect or untimely treatment of nephropathy in a pregnant woman can provoke the development of preeclampsia. In this case, the representative of the fair sex, in position, will have a severe headache. In addition, a woman may begin to suffer:
- From nausea and vomiting.
- Disorders of the optic nerve. Patients often complain of the appearance of flies and veils before their eyes.
- Insomnia or, conversely, increased drowsiness.
- Memory problems.
Ailment can lead to eclampsia and generalized seizures. If a woman has such attacks, then she may lose consciousness, and in the most difficult cases - fall into a coma. As a rule, eclampsia is preceded by high blood pressure, so you should be very careful about your health.
In addition, due to the onset of spasms of arteries in the uterus, there is a high risk of developing placental insufficiency, which very quickly passes into the chronic stage. This is fraught with the fact that the fetus will no longer receive oxygen in the volumes necessary for it. This becomes the cause of hypoxia. Because of this, the baby’s body will not be able to form in the right way. Ultimately, after birth, a child may suffer from a severe lag in both physical and mental development.
It's important to know
Symptoms of nephropathy in pregnant women should not be ignored, since this dangerous ailment can provoke premature birth. In some situations, specialists have to perform an urgent cesarean section, regardless of the period of gestation. In this case, it is already about saving the life of the woman herself. Additionally, nephropathy can lead to placental abruption and heavy bleeding.
Diagnostics
To exclude the likelihood of developing this dangerous ailment, pregnant women are advised to take urine tests every 2 weeks until the 30th week of gestation. After this, you must visit the doctor at least 1 time per week. Only if the woman will regularly pass urine for tests, it will be possible to notice in time any deviations in the work of the kidneys and the development of nephropathy.
However, it should be borne in mind that in order for the indicators to be accurate, a woman must monitor her weight and note any changes in blood pressure indicators.
Treatment
Doctors are required to treat nephropathy in a pregnant woman only in a hospital setting. This is because with this pathology there is a huge risk of developing serious, and most importantly, sudden complications. Therefore, round-the-clock medical supervision is an important component of the correct approach to treating a patient.
In the treatment of this disease, strict control of blood pressure and diuresis is required.
If we talk about the treatment itself, then it takes place in several stages. First of all, antihypertensive therapy is carried out. It includes taking medications that can lead to normal blood pressure. At the next stage, infusion treatment begins. It involves taking drugs that can improve the hydrodynamics and blood coagulation. The third stage of therapy includes the intake of aticoagulants. These drugs prevent blood clots. After this, it is necessary to stabilize the utero-placental blood flow and try to cure possible complications.
Difficult cases
In some situations, the doctor may recommend a cesarean section, artificially provoke childbirth, or terminate the pregnancy. This may be necessary if the treatment has not yielded any results or if nephropathy is too advanced stage. Also, emergency measures are often resorted to with a clear delay in the development of the fetus, as well as with bleeding and other complications that can be dangerous for a woman.
If the treatment gives a positive result, and the woman’s condition is assessed as satisfactory, then in this case there is every chance to wait for the birth and make a healthy baby.
Features of nephropathy
As already mentioned earlier, in identifying this ailment, a woman must be placed in a hospital. Only in these conditions will doctors be able to monitor the state of the kidneys and other organs.
At the first stage, specialists conduct examination, ultrasound diagnostics and CTG of the fetus. If the disease was diagnosed in the initial stage or in a mild form, then in this case the expectant mother will have to stay in the hospital for no more than 10 days.
If a more serious stage of nephropathy has developed, then in this case the woman’s stay in hospital walls is determined by her health status and how effective the treatment is. In some situations, women in labor have to remain in the hospital until the birth itself.
You need to understand that for high-quality diagnosis and proper treatment, the hospital must have the appropriate equipment. In small towns and villages, there is practically no possibility of getting the necessary help. Therefore, it is better for a pregnant woman to treat nephropathy in Moscow or the nearest large settlement. There hospitals are equipped with more modern units.
Prevention of nephropathy in pregnant women
If the treatment gave a positive result and the patient was discharged from the hospital, this does not mean that she can relax. It is important to prevent the recurrence of the disease.
To do this, it is very important to limit yourself from any stressful situations. If a woman experiences nervousness and depression, then you can start taking mild sedatives, such as tincture of motherwort.
In addition, a pregnant woman should more often be in the fresh air, better away from the gassed city. Thanks to oxygen, blood circulation will improve and organs will work normally.
Also, experts recommend adhering to specialized diets. A woman should drink as much water as possible (at least 2 liters per day) and eat vegetable and animal protein. It will be useful to include meat and fish dishes, milk and other dairy products in your diet.
Finally
In addition, during pregnancy and after childbirth, it is recommended to periodically check the condition of the kidneys. If the woman already had problems, then relapses are quite possible. Therefore, it is better not to take risks and undergo examinations.