8 weeks pregnant and a living kidney donor—what do you wish you had known?
8 weeks pregnant and a living kidney donor—what do you wish you had known?
Hi everyone! I’m currently eight weeks pregnant and donated one of my kidneys twelve years ago, in 2014. This is my first pregnancy since donating, and I’m hoping to learn from other living kidney donors who have gone through pregnancy—or anyone with relevant experience.
I will absolutely follow the guidance of my OB and kidney specialists, but I would really appreciate hearing about your real-life experiences:
- Did you see a maternal-fetal medicine specialist, nephrologist, or both?
- Were you monitored differently from other pregnant patients?
- Which kidney-function, urine-protein, or blood-pressure tests did you receive, and how often?
- Were there any medications, supplements, foods, exercises, or everyday activities you were told to avoid?
- What helped you stay properly hydrated and nourished, especially during first-trimester nausea and vomiting?
- Were you advised to change your protein or sodium intake?
- What symptoms or warning signs were you told to take especially seriously?
- Did you experience high blood pressure, preeclampsia, kidney-function changes, early delivery, or other complications?
- How were your kidney health and blood pressure monitored after delivery?
- What questions should I bring to my first prenatal appointment?
I would love to hear positive stories as well as honest experiences about challenges. I’m not looking for Reddit to replace medical advice—I’m trying to educate myself, prepare good questions, and advocate for the healthiest possible pregnancy for both me and the baby.
Thank you so much for sharing anything you wish you had known at eight weeks. ❤️