How to Prevent Kidney Stones During Pregnancy

Kidney stones are solid mineral deposits that develop from crystals in the urine. They are generally made of calcium, but kidney stones may also form from uric acid, cystine, or struvite. While the overall prevalence of kidney stones is no higher during pregnancy, treatment of stones is more difficult. Common procedures for treating kidney stones in nonpregnant women, such as radiation, surgery, and anesthesia, may harm an unborn child. This makes it important to prevent kidney stones during pregnancy.

Instructions

1

Drink plenty of water. Fluid needs increase during pregnancy, and dehydration increases the risk of kidney stones. To significantly reduce the risk of kidney stones caused by dehydration, you need to drink enough water to produce at least 2.5 liters of urine each day. You can measure your urine output by collecting your urine and transferring it to empty 2-liter soda bottles.

2

Have a glass of lemonade every day. The Mayo Clinic states that lemonade made with real lemon increases urinary citrate levels, which helps prevent stone formation during pregnancy.

3

Avoid drinking grapefruit juice to prevent kidney stones during pregnancy. While the exact relationship between kidney stones and grapefruit juice is unclear, the risk of stone formation is significantly higher, according to the Mayo Clinic.

4

Avoid chocolate, nuts, beets, rhubarb, wheat germ, sweet potatoes, okra, concentrated tomato sauce, and dark-green leafy vegetables. This will help prevent the formation of calcium oxalate stones, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).

5

Reduce the amount of sodium in your diet. A high-sodium diet leads to increased calcium excretion, which may increase the risk of stone formation.

6

Take supplemental magnesium and vitamin B6. According to New York Medical College, these nutrients slow or prevent the formation of most kidney stones.