Kidney pain is one of the symptoms that most women share, it is a very frequent discomfort towards the second half of pregnancy. The pain is usually most acute at the end of the day and comes on in a sudden, stabbing way. Although it is not dangerous, kidney pain makes it very difficult to rest and the pain is quite uncomfortable.
The physical changes that occur as a result of pregnancy are the cause of kidney pain, although in reality the affected part is usually another. The pain appears in the lower back, pelvis or lumbar area, so although commonly called kidney pain, these organs are usually not affected. In that case, the type of discomfort would be much more intense and would need to be treated in the emergency department.
Are you pregnant and suffering from kidney pain? Do not miss these tips that will help you when it comes to alleviating these discomforts.
What Causes Kidney Pain In Pregnancy?
As the baby grows in the womb, other organs in the mother's body have to move to make room for the baby. This leads the mother to modify her posture to be more comfortable, which involves curving the spine more than usual. This causes the lower back area to be in constant tension, which leads to kidney pain.
Es from the second trimester of pregnancy when they begin to appear this kind of annoyance. When the belly begins to grow and the mother's posture changes to adapt to the new circumstances. Pain can be quite annoying, although every woman has a completely different pain threshold. So for some women the pain can be very intense, and for others a slight discomfort.
Tips to soothe kidney pain in pregnancy
Avoiding these annoyances can be very difficult, however, exercise and some therapies with specialists can help you to prevent kidney pain associated with changes in pregnancy. Once the pain appears, you can ease the discomfort by following these tips:
- You can apply heat to the lower back to alleviate discomfort. Although it is very important that in no case the heat is applied directly to the gut area. Not even from the sides, since the heat in the belly it can be dangerous for the baby.
- You can also take a warm bath. If you do, make sure the water is not too hot or spend too much time in the water.
- Avoid spending too much time in the same position. Standing too long will cause you to strain your spine posture even more. Similarly, sitting too long can cause kidney pain as well as other discomforts such as fluid retention.
The best way to avoid physical discomfort caused by pregnancy is by doing appropriate physical activity for each case. It is important that exercise is low-impact and performed under the supervision of a professional. The best sports for pregnant women are swimming, yoga or Pilates, this link you will find very complete information about it.
What to do if the pain is very intense?
In general, kidney pain is not very dangerous but very annoying. However, suffering from these discomforts in pregnancy can be a symptom of other complications. Thus, if the pain is accompanied by any of these symptoms, do not hesitate to go to the doctor immediately:
- If you have a fever
- In case you notice the loss of sensation in any of the lower extremities or in the pelvic area.
- If the pain in the lower back appears at the end of the second trimester or at the beginning of the third, as it can be a symptom of the onset of preterm labor.
- If the pain persists and does not subside after a reasonable time.