Anyone pregnant with CKD or other chronic illness?

[SandysMam]

I am 10 weeks pregnant despite suffering from stage 3 Chronic Kidney Disease. The pregnancy was planned after discussion with my renal consultant and will be managed as high risk but I can't help but feel low (even though baby is very much wanted!). Just looking for support really from anyone in the same boat...going ahead with a pregnancy despite it being a risk to their health.

[Glitterbaby17]

I have haemochromatosis and am also consultant led because I can't have venesections while I'm pregnant so my iron will likely go too high. Am quite frustrated as will impact me during pregnancy but not a higher delivery risk and I really want a birth centre birth

[hashtagtubechat]

I have an autoimmune disease, 21 weeks pregnant at the moment. I have an antibody that may cause neonatal lupus in the baby. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we'll get lucky and avoid it. Had lots of extra scans and appointments already, and more to look forward to, but fortunately so far it has beem straightforward pregnancy. For me, the anxiety started disappearing after my second scan in 16 week, once I saw she has grown and developed normal so far (and fell in love watching her sucking her thumb during the scan). Sending you some good luck wishes and positive vibes.

[FlipperSkipper]

I have stage 3 CKD and am 24 weeks pregnant. I'm high risk and see the consultant monthly. I'll have extra scans due to high risk of IUGR and will be induced at 37-38 weeks. I'm quite anxious, but so far things seem to be ok. My consultant said he sees women with much worse kidney problems than me who have healthy pregnancies.

[SandysMam]

Thanks everyone, just nice to know I'm not alone. My very experienced midwife said she had never dealt with anyone who had it, making me feel like such a freak! I also worry I have done the wrong thing in case pregnancy makes me lose even more kidney function and I am too ill to care for my baby. I am having a bit of a pity party today, need to pull myself together!

FlipperSkipper, do you get any counselling from any kidney organisations for it or do you feel you can cope ok?

[FlipperSkipper]

I've not been in touch with any of the kidney organisations, no. To be honest I feel healthy and my kidney function has been stable for years so I'm not too worried. My consultant has been great at reassuring me. I'll just have to see what happens!

[Splashingincuddles]

Hi SandysMam. I had a kidney transplant in 2009 after kidney failure and gave birth to our son in July 2014. I worried so much but was so well looked after by midwives and consultants, and did have to take a lot more drugs and supplements and attend more scans. Our son was born (after a spontaneous labour) at 32 weeks, and I would have been induced at 36 if I'd got that far. I'm now 23 weeks pregnant with our second child and the doctors assume a pre-term delivery again. If your kidney function is stable and your general health is good, then everything is on your side! It's incredible what medicine can do these days.

I know just how scary it is to be told that having a child could seriously damage your kidney function, and I had nightmares about losing my kidney and ending up on dialysis with a newborn, but just stay positive, do what the doctors tell you and everything will be fine, I'm sure. You'll be so closely monitored that any problems will be identified quickly and sorted.

Wishing you lots of luck - they're so worth it that you forget the weekly hospital visits, constant blood tests and stress. The most irritating thing I found was when people told me I was 'so lucky' to have growth scans and get more ultrasound photos... I'm incredibly lucky, but not for that reason!