Kidney pain during pregnancy

Kidney pain during pregnancy: How to distinguish it from back pain

Back pain is an almost inevitable companion of pregnancy, but it is important to be able to differentiate ordinary muscular discomfort from kidney pain, which may signal serious problems. Proper identification of symptoms is key to timely seeking help.

Characteristic signs of kidney pain

Unlike general lower back pain, kidney pain usually has the following features:

• Location: It is felt higher, under the ribs, on one or both sides of the spine. The pain may radiate to the side, abdomen, or groin.
• Nature: The pain is usually sharp, constant and throbbing, and not related to movement or change in body position. With kidney stones it can be very intense, colicky.
• Associated symptoms: Most often kidney pain is accompanied by high fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, as well as changes during urination (pain, burning, blood in urine).

Most common causes

Acute pyelonephritis (kidney infection) is the number one cause. It develops when bacteria from the bladder ascend to the kidneys. Pregnant women are especially prone to this because of physiological changes in the urinary system. This is a serious condition that requires immediate treatment with antibiotics in a hospital setting, as it can lead to preterm labor. Learn more about urinary tract infections.

Another cause can be kidney stones or hydronephrosis (swelling of the kidney due to impaired urine outflow caused by uterine pressure). Any of these conditions requires careful diagnosis and monitoring by a physician as part of your prenatal care.