Dialysis Kidney Transplants And Medicine
Treatment for kidney disease varies depending on the maturity of the disease. Heres how some options can affect potential pregnancies:
- Medications: Many common kidney medicines are safe for pregnancy, though some are not. These can change from case to case, and your doctor will tell you whats right for you.
- Dialysis: Women using a dialysis machine to increase kidney function are usually doing so because they have a low red blood cell count and hormone changes. These can lead to several complications with pregnancy, and doctors usually advise against becoming pregnant.
- Kidney Transplant: Kidney transplants replace damaged kidneys with healthy ones, and if theyre successful, pregnancy is still possible. As long as its been at least two years since the transplant and your doctor says you are healthy, getting pregnant is usually possible.
Diet After Kidney Donation
The recovery time for a kidney donor varies, but most people will spend two to four days in the hospital and about a week recovering at home. Most donors will feel well enough to resume their normal lives after two to four weeks, though donors should not drive or lift heavy items for some time.
The National Kidney Foundation says that most kidney donors won’t need to follow a specific diet, but you can discuss dietary concerns with your doctor 26. Right after surgery, you’ll likely be restricted to water and clear liquids until any nausea dissipates.
After the typical in-hospital surgery recovery time for a kidney donor of one to two days, you should be able to eat normally. You can also discuss any worries about your diet with your doctor before or after a kidney donation surgery.
In some cases, doctors will advise people with one kidney to avoid contact sports in order to avoid injuring the solitary kidney. Sports restrictions with one kidney include football, hockey, martial arts, soccer and wrestling. While serious kidney injuries from these sports are not common, its important to weigh the risks and benefits.
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Getting Pregnant With Endometriosis: Is It Possible
The lining of the uterus is known as the endometrium. This unique tissue is responsible for menstruation, including when it sloughs off and causes bleeding. This happens when you get your period.
When a person has endometriosis, tissue similar to the endometrium grows in places it shouldnt. Examples include your ovaries, intestines, or tissue that lines your pelvis. This can cause pain and complications.
Most treatments for endometriosis aim to prevent ovulation. One example is taking birth control pills. When youre trying to get pregnant, youll stop taking these treatments. Fertility in general can unfortunately also be affected by endometriosis.
Heres what you need to know if youre trying to get pregnant while living with endometriosis.
2 to 10 percent of couples living with endometriosis succeeded in becoming pregnant versus 15 to 20 percent of couples without endometriosis as a complication.
Fertility issues due to endometriosis can be related to several causes. The first is if endometriosis affects the ovaries and/or fallopian tubes.
An egg must travel from the ovary, past the fallopian tube, and to the uterus for fertilization before implanting into the uterine lining. If a woman has endometriosis in her fallopian tube lining, the tissue may keep the egg from traveling to the uterus.
Its also possible that endometriosis could damage an egg or a sperm. While doctors dont know exactly why this occurs, a theory is that endometriosis causes
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Can A Woman Who Has A Kidney Transplant Have A Baby
Yes. If you have a kidney transplant, you are likely to have regular menstrual periods and good general health. Therefore, getting pregnant and having a child is possible. But you should not become pregnant for at least one year after your transplant, even with stable kidney function. Some medicines that you take after a kidney transplant can cause problems to a developing baby. In some cases, pregnancy may not be recommended because there is a high risk to you or the baby. Another reason is if there is a risk of losing the transplant.
Talk with your healthcare provider if you have a transplant and are thinking about getting pregnant. Your healthcare provider may need to change your medications so that it is safe for you to become pregnant. It is very important to use birth control until you and your healthcare provider have agreed that it is safe for you to become pregnant.
Live Kidney Donor Medical Toolkit Authors And Editors:
Dianne LaPointe Rudow, ANP-BC, DNP, CCTC Rebecca Hays, APSW David Serur, MD Kathy Schwab, RN, BSN, CCTC Kimberly Ansley, LCSW Marian Charlton, SRN, RN Mary Amanda Dew, Ph.D. Rich Formica, MD Elisa Gordon, Ph.D., MPH Choli Hartono, MD Krista Lentine, MD, Ph.D. Didier A. Mandelbrot, MD Kenneth Newell, MD Dana Parker, LCSW Todd Pesavento, MD James Rodrigue, Ph.D. Dorry Segev, MD Sandra Taler, MD Jane Tan, MD Ph.D. Roxanne Taylor, RN, MSN Erica Thomas, RN Margaret Vandrovec, LICSW, MSW Rebecca Wallschlaeger, RD E. Steve Woodle, MD
This website redesign was made possible in part by a grant from Alexion.
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What About A Kidney Transplant
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Health, almost 200,000 people in the United States have a functioning transplanted kidney.
A kidney transplant is only done when you have no functioning kidneys. The risks of the procedure and side effects of the medications youll need for the rest of your life outweigh the small increase in function you get from a second kidney.
If your solitary kidney gets injured or sick and stops working, you might be eligible for a transplant.
No matter how many kidneys you started with, you only receive one kidney in a transplant. The transplanted kidney usually gets bigger and works harder over time. Eventually, your transplanted kidney will function almost as well as two kidneys.
Pregnancy If You Have Diabetes
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If you have diabetes and plan to have a baby, you should try to get your blood glucose levels close to your target range before you get pregnant.
Staying in your target range during pregnancy, which may be different than when you arent pregnant, is also important. High blood glucose, also called blood sugar, can harm your baby during the first weeks of pregnancy, even before you know you are pregnant. If you have diabetes and are already pregnant, see your doctor as soon as possible to make a plan to manage your diabetes. Working with your health care team and following your diabetes management plan can help you have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.
If you develop diabetes for the first time while you are pregnant, you have gestational diabetes.
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What Are The Symptoms
Its quite common for a woman with a double uterus to experience no symptoms whatsoever. A doctor may discover the condition during a routine pelvic exam. Otherwise, its usually found when investigating the cause of recurrent miscarriages.
If a woman has a double vagina with a double uterus, then she may experience menstrual bleeding even after shes inserted a tampon. This is because she has placed the tampon inside one of her vaginas but is still bleeding from the other vagina.
What Do I Need To Know About Blood Glucose Testing Before And During Pregnancy
How often you check your blood glucose levels may change during pregnancy. You may need to check them more often than you do now. If you didnt need to check your blood glucose before pregnancy, you will probably need to start. Ask your health care team how often and at what times you should check your blood glucose levels. Your blood glucose targets will change during pregnancy. Your health care team also may want you to check your ketone levels if your blood glucose is too high.
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Will My Baby Get Adpkd
You can pass ADPKD to your baby. If you or your partner has it, thereâs a 50% chance your baby will get the gene and develop the condition at some point in life.
Talk to a genetic counselor for more information. They can explain how parents pass ADPKD to children and help you understand your choices.
You can find a genetic counselor at many university medical centers. Your doctor or kidney specialist may also refer you to a specialist for genetic counseling.
Kidney Disease And Pregnancy: Its Challenging But Possible
Kidney disease changes many things in awomans life. But it doesnt necessarily take away her desire to have a baby.
Separately, both pregnancy and kidney disease are hard on the body. The sameis true of conditions that affect kidney function, such as diabetes, lupus, and chronic high blood pressure.
Together, however, pregnancy and kidneydisease present complications to a patients current and future health. Womenwith chronic kidney disease are at higher risk for complications such aspreeclampsia, restricted fetal growth, preterm delivery, and need forcesarean-section .
These challenges must be carefully managedwith the help of a specialized care team that includes a nephrologist and amaternal-fetal medicine doctor. In our high-risk pregnancy office, we approachprenatal care with these patients differently based on whether they:
- Had kidney disease prior topregnancy
- Have received a kidney transplant,or
- Were diagnosed with kidneycomplications during pregnancy
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Im On Birth Control Do I Need To Stop Taking Birth Control If I Become A Living Kidney Donor
It is safe to use birth control after living kidney donation. However, certain types of birth control use hormones like estrogen and should be stopped six weeks prior to donation surgery, because they can increase the risk of having a blood clot after surgery. If you are on a birth control pill, you should talk to your transplant team about whether you need to stop taking it before surgery. If you had to stop taking your birth control medication before donation, your transplant team will also let you know when it is safe to start using it again.
1. Ibrahim HN, Akkina SK, Leister E, Gillingham K, Cordner G, Guo H, et al. Pregnancy Outcomes After Kidney Donation. American Journal of Transplantation. 2009 9:825-34.
2. Nevis IF, Garg AX, for the Donor Nephrectomy Outcomes Research N. Maternal and Fetal Outcomes After Living Kidney Donation. American Journal of Transplantation. 2009 9:661-8.
3. Buszta C, Steinmuller DR, Novick AC, Shreiber MJ, Cunningham R, Popowniak KL, et al. Pregnancy after donor nephrectomy. Transplantation. 1985 40:651-4.
4. Wrenshall LE, McHugh L, Felton P, Dunn DL, Matas AJ. Pregnancy after donor nephrectomy. Transplantation. 1996 62:1934-6.
5. Reisæter AV, Røislien J, Henriksen T, Irgens LM, Hartmann A. Pregnancy and Birth After Kidney Donation: The Norwegian Experience. American Journal of Transplantation. 2009 9:820-4.
Your Kid Can Still Be A Kid
Luckily, the kidneys are located in the middle of the back, tucked up under the ribcage. If your childs kidney is in this normal spot, it is well-protectedand not easily injured.
Your child can still run, ride a bike, play on the playground and do other normal activities. No special diet is needed, either. Check with your doctor for specific advice, but in general, let your kid be a kid!
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How Does It Affect Pregnancy
Having a double uterus doesnt usually cause a woman any problems for actually getting pregnant. Sometimes the shape of the uterus that the fetus has implanted in leads to miscarriage. As well, women with a double uterus generally have smaller uteri, which can lead to preterm labor.
If you have a double uterus and are pregnant, your doctors will want to monitor your pregnancy very closely to ensure that all is well with your baby. They may suggest early delivery via cesarean delivery if the baby shows signs that theyre not doing well.
If youve had recurrent miscarriages, you may be offered surgery, which can increase your chances of carrying to term.
What Are Clinical Trials And Are They Right For You
Clinical trials are part of clinical research and at the heart of all medical advances. Clinical trials look at new ways to prevent, detect, or treat disease. Researchers also use clinical trials to look at other aspects of care, such as improving the quality of life for people with chronic illnesses. Find out if clinical trials are right for you.
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Pregnancy And Kidney Dialysis
Women with kidney disease who are on dialysis may wonder how dialysis will affect their chances of getting pregnant and delivering a healthy baby. Studies show that only 1 to 7 percent of women of childbearing age on dialysis can get pregnant. Over 90 percent of women of childbearing age on dialysis cannot get pregnant because having kidney disease can decrease the ability to produce healthy eggs that can be fertilized. Also, some women on dialysis may not menstruate or if they do, they have irregular periods. This is caused by irregular hormone levels in the body.
While it is rare, women on dialysis have become pregnant. Of these pregnancies, about 20 percent will end in miscarriage. A full-term pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks however, about 80 percent of dialysis pregnancies will only go about 32 weeks, resulting in a premature birth.
Is pregnancy recommended for women on dialysis?
Pregnancy is generally not recommended for dialysis patients because it is considered a high-risk pregnancy. Healthy kidneys work all day everyday, yet in-center hemodialysis is only about 12 hours per week and replaces only a portion of kidney function. The body of someone on dialysis has a higher level of waste products than a body with good kidney function. Having extra wastes in the body makes it harder for the baby to develop as it should.
How can a woman on dialysis improve her chances of having a baby?
How often should a pregnant dialysis patient do dialysis treatments?
Target Blood Glucose Levels Before Pregnancy
When youre planning to become pregnant, your daily blood glucose targets may be different than your previous targets. Ask your health care team which targets are right for you.
You can keep track of your blood glucose levels using My Daily Blood Glucose Record. You can also use an electronic blood glucose tracking system on your computer or mobile device. Record the results every time you check your blood glucose. Your blood glucose records can help you and your health care team decide whether your diabetes care plan is working. You also can make notes about your insulin and ketones. Take your tracker with you when you visit your health care team.
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Can You Have A Healthy Pregnancy Having Only One Kidney
I am donating one of my kidneys to a cousin in September 2008. Iam 26 years old and am not done having children. I currently have abeautiful 9 month old daughter and can’t wait to give her siblingsbut my cousins health took a turn and surgery has been set. Myfuture childrens lives can wait, he can not. I am mentally having ahard time with the possibility I may never be pregnant again andwould love someone to email me if they have had a baby on onekidney… Thanks Sarah
How Can Diabetes Affect My Baby
A babys organs, such as the brain, heart, kidneys, and lungs, start forming during the first 8 weeks of pregnancy. High blood glucose levels can be harmful during this early stage and can increase the chance that your baby will have birth defects, such as heart defects or defects of the brain or spine.
High blood glucose levels during pregnancy can also increase the chance that your baby will be born too early, weigh too much, or have breathing problems or low blood glucose right after birth.
High blood glucose also can increase the chance that you will have a miscarriage or a stillborn baby.1 Stillborn means the baby dies in the womb during the second half of pregnancy.
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Will It Happen In Future Pregnancies
Doctors are trying to understand what causes bilateral renal agenesis. It is sometimes caused by a genetic mutation, which means that it may be inherited from the mother or father.
However, it is not usually likely that a future pregnancy will result in renal agenesis, or other problems with the kidneys. Your doctor or healthcare professional will be able to give you more information.
Kidney Pain Early Pregnancy
Usually, pains in the kidneys start occurring on the 9th week of pregnancy. This, of course, on condition that there werent any illnesses in this area before. Still, you need to remember that pregnant women are forbidden to take the majority of drugs. Thats why you doctor may prescribe to you natural drugs that are unable to harm a mother or her baby. Their effect doesnt become less because of it. Its quite the opposite. They have a soft, diuretic, antimicrobial and spasmalitical effect.
Youll also need to change your usual diet. Youll need to exclude salt, spicy and sour foods, fat kinds of meat and fish, sweets in big amounts. These products are not only allergens for your future baby, they also irritate the walls of the urinary bladder. Without sticking to a special diet, you will get no effect even if youll be drinking herbal tea. If you drink a fruit drink made of cranberry or cowberry every day, this will have a positive effect on you.
You need to drink not less than 2 liters of liquids per day. Go to the toilet more often and empty your urinary bladder. Your clothes should be comfortable and you should move freely in them. It also shouldnt press on your belly. Starting from the 10th week of pregnancy , when your belly starts to grow actively, you need to wear special clothes for pregnant women. Youd better exclude taking hot baths for the time of pregnancy. Youd better have warm showers.
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