kidney stone!!

[slippy]

During my ultrasound, along with a live baby- they also found a 9mm kidney stone!  I learned about this at my family doctor, because she has my ultrasound results, and i dont go see my midwife until next week. She kindof blew over it- just saying it was there, and was not obstructing anything, and we wouldn't do anything until it gave me grief. So i go home and look to see what dr. google has to say about kidney stones and i'm a bit terrified- apparently 9mm is pretty big, and "giving me grief" is more like sudden excrutiating pain. I'm going to make an apointment to go back and talk more with her in the next few weeks, but I wanted to know if anyone had any experience with kidney stones in pregnancy? anything i can do?

[Qbear'smama]

I was at the ER last Thursday with apparent kidney stones (had some wicked left flank pain) and I'm 40 weeks preg. I didn't get an ultrasound (bit complicated, live in one province, went to the hospital in another, so they suggested I get my MW in my own province to refer me for an ultrasound, blah blah) but because there was blood in my urine and all other tests were fine, they concluded that's what it was. The doctor told me that if the stones are large, they actually will cause you less trouble because they won't fit in the kidney's ureters, which are very small, whereas the smaller ones passing through are actually the ones that are excruciatingly painful. Unfortunately I don't know what the size is that makes it big enough not to fit, but maybe yours is that big if they were unconcerned? At any rate, they said all they could do was give me a prescription for pain medication (which I wouldn't take) and suggested I stay hydrated and hopefully pass them. I got a homeopathic remedy for them and actually have been fine since I was at the hospital, so hopefully it's all good now. My MW felt there was no point to get the US, since the other tests (kidney functioning etc) were fine and there was nothing to be done even if we confirmed the stones. Good luck, hopefully it won't cause you any problems.

[momof3tobe]

Hello! I registered just so I could reply to you because I know what you are going through!  I had kidney stones with both my previous pregnancies and they are fine as long as they stay in your kidneys and don't move through the urinary tract.  A way to help keep them there is to drink a ton of water- like at least a gallon a day.  Mine unfortunately decided to travel and that's when the back pain and vomiting starts!  A woman I know who gets reoccurring stones told me this trick and it seemed to work- she said to go to Whole Foods (or other health food store) and buy some umboeshi plum paste (I hope I spelled that right- it's Japanese plum paste) and take a little bit every day.  It tastes extremely salty but apparently it is the most alkalizing thing you can take and it helps break up the stones so they just come out as sediment in your urine and not a painful stone.  I did this with both my stones and sure enough it just looked Iike a little sand in my urine for a day and then it was all gone!  I also started squeezing lemon in my water because  it has citric acid in it which is also supposed to help break up the stones.  Good luck- don't worry- it's not as bad as it sounds, just drink a lot of water and lemon and if your back starts to hurt or if you get nauseous, you'll know what it is and can stop it before it gets bad!