Pregnancy brings with it a series of changes in a woman's body, some more annoying than others. Among them, it is worth mentioning back pain and, more specifically, pain in the kidneys or lower back. In this case, we must differentiate between pain in the kidneys themselves and pain in the lower back.
When we talk about pain in the kidneys, it could be indicative of renal colic. That is, the formation of stones or stones in the kidney. This case is rare in pregnancy, affecting only one in every 1,500 pregnant women, according to data from the Quirón Salud blog.
However, what is more common is feeling lumbar pain, in the lower back area, commonly referring to this discomfort as kidney pain, without these organs actually being affected. To know how to alleviate one condition or another, it is first important to know which of the two ailments we are dealing with.
Renal colic is caused by obstruction of the urinary tract, due to the accumulation of certain substances that crystallize, forming a calculus or stone that produces acute pain. It manifests itself with pain in the lower back and may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, discomfort, burning or pain when urinating, constant need to go to the bathroom, presence of blood in the urine or fever.
If any of these symptoms appear, you should go to the doctor as soon as possible. To relieve kidney pain caused by a kidney stone, it helps to apply heat to the area, as well as taking certain prescription medications. Hydration is also essential. Stones usually pass spontaneously without the need for intervention or treatment.
More common than renal colic is pain in the lumbar area of the back, often confused with kidney pain itself. This is due to the expansion of the uterus, which weakens the abdominal muscles and puts more pressure on the back muscles.
Likewise, the weight of the belly forces the mother to curve her body posture, aggravating the pain in the lower back and kidneys. Sciatica, severe pain in the lower back and back of the leg, often even occurs due to compression of the sciatic nerve.
