During pregnancy, which is one of the most special periods for women, many changes occur in the body at once. It is extremely important to follow these changes closely and take the necessary precautions for the health of both the mother and the baby. Stating that the kidneys are the first organ to change during pregnancy, Yeditepe University Koşuyolu Hospital Nephrology Specialist Prof. Dr. Gülçin Kantarcı said, “During pregnancy, the kidney changes first. The functioning and filtering of the kidney and therefore the blood pressure status of the person are different from the pre-pregnancy period. Therefore, the kidneys should be carefully monitored during pregnancy examinations.” In order to prevent possible problems, before a planned pregnancy, a urinalysis and blood pressure measurement should be performed and it is necessary to check whether there are known kidney failure. Prof. Dr. Gülçin Kantarcı gave information about kidney problems that may occur during pregnancy.

High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy

Prof. Dr. Gülçin Kantarcı, who said that the kidney's functioning, filtering, and therefore the blood pressure status of the person differs from the pre-pregnancy period, drew attention to the fact that kidney disease can occur during pregnancy in women who have not had a problem with their kidneys before.
Prof. Dr. Gülçin Kantarcı, who said that the most common kidney-related condition during pregnancy is high blood pressure (hypertension) during pregnancy, gave the following information on the subject: “Blood pressure usually drops in the first three months. In the second 3 months, blood pressure starts to rise to normal limits. Another condition is the exacerbation of hypertension due to different reasons during pregnancy and the emergence of the disease called preeclampsia. Generally, if hypertension is detected after the 20th week of pregnancy, preeclampsia may be present. These people have no known kidney disease or hypertension. It is accompanied by swelling, edema, and protein loss. In some progressive forms, if it becomes more severe and progresses rapidly, it can lead to seizures. This is also called eclampsia and is more common in young pregnant women around the age of 20 and in first pregnancies.”
Preeclampsia is more common in pregnant women who had preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy, whose mother had a history of preeclampsia, and who have multiple pregnancies, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, vascular and soft tissue diseases, obesity, and diabetes.
Prof. Dr. Gülçin Kantarcı pointed out that recent studies have shown that preeclampsia can be diagnosed early by monitoring the levels of growth hormone secreted by the placenta (the structure that provides the baby's needs in the womb, brings nutrients to the baby, collects wastes, and ensures the growth of the baby).

Preeclampsia Affects Both the Pregnant Woman and the Baby

Emphasizing that high blood pressure is a problem that closely concerns both the pregnant woman and the mother, Prof. Dr. Gülçin Kantarcı says that in case of protein leakage in the urine due to hypertension during pregnancy, serious consequences such as cerebral hemorrhage and even death of the mother may occur. In addition, if gestational hypertension is not followed up and treated very well, growth retardation or low birth weight may occur in the baby. For this reason, individuals with high blood pressure, preeclampsia, and eclampsia during pregnancy should be followed up closely by both a gynecologist and a nephrologist.
Preeclampsia occurs in about 5 percent of all pregnancies. It is more common in first pregnancies and those at advanced ages.
Stating that not only pregnant women in the risk group but all pregnant women should be screened for preeclampsia, Prof. Dr. Gülçin Kantarcı said, “Before pregnancy and/or in early pregnancy, only urinalysis and blood pressure measurement are important in differentiating preeclampsia from chronic diseases. It is very valuable for the life of both mother and baby with the follow-up of these two follow-ups.”

Recurring Infections

Another common problem in pregnant women is recurrent infections. Stating that pregnant women have a higher probability of urinary tract infections compared to non-pregnant women, Yeditepe University Hospital Nephrology Specialist Prof. Dr. Gülçin Kantarcı said, “Kidney inflammation can affect the life of pregnant women as well as negatively affect the health of the baby. In addition, some diseases such as nephritis can be exacerbated with pregnancy. Especially in the sixth month of pregnancy, enlargement of the kidneys may occur due to the pressure.” Diabetic and overweight pregnant women have a high risk of developing infections. Weight and blood sugar control should be ensured during pregnancy, and 6-8 glasses of water should be drunk daily. If urinary tract infections cannot be treated adequately, there is a risk of infection in the mother's blood and delivery of a baby with a low birth weight.

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