The following information is for adults and older children and teens who are pregnant or might be pregnant, or who are thinking of getting pregnant.

If possible, it’s a good idea to talk to your kidney doctor before you get pregnant because GN can affect pregnancy and pregnancy can affect your GN. Certain medicines used to treat GN might also not be safe in pregnancy. Remember that other things can affect your pregnancy, such as your age, your general health, and whether or not you use tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs. If possible, talk to your healthcare provider about all of these things before you get pregnant.

You’re more likely to have a healthy pregnancy if your GN is in remission. This means you are feeling well, you have normal kidney function, there is no protein in your urine, and your blood pressure is well managed.

If your GN is more advanced and you’re having symptoms, you have a higher risk of problems during pregnancy. Your healthcare provider will work with you to:

• keep your GN symptoms stable
• make sure you’re taking the right medicines
• manage your blood pressure

Doing these things gives you the best chance of having a healthy pregnancy.

What are the risks for my pregnancy when I have GN?

When you have GN and you’re pregnant, you’re at higher risk for pregnancy issues. Some types of GN (such as lupus nephritis) have more risks than others. Talk to your healthcare provider about the type of GN you have and how it can affect your pregnancy. Possible pregnancy problems include:

• new or worse high blood pressure
• preeclampsia (high blood pressure and damage to another organ such as kidneys, liver)
• losing your baby before they’re born (miscarriage or fetal death)
• having your baby very early (premature baby)
• having a very small baby
• cesarean section (C-section—when your baby is born through a cut in your belly)

Can pregnancy make my GN worse?

Being pregnant can affect your GN and because changes in your hormones can cause your GN symptoms to get worse (flare up). Your healthcare provider will be watching you closely for these problems (complications) and will work with you and your other healthcare providers to manage them.

Problems can include:

• protein in your urine (proteinuria) gets worse
• kidney function gets worse and never gets better
• blood clots

There are medicines that treat GN problems when you’re pregnant. Talk to your healthcare provider about what is right for you.

How can I lower my risk of problems during pregnancy?

The best way to lower your risk of problems during pregnancy is to keep your GN stable (stop it from getting worse) and manage your blood pressure before you get pregnant. In addition to your regular nephrologist, your healthcare team should include an obstetrician (healthcare provider who specializes in pregnancy) who works with people who have kidney problems. Your healthcare provider may also recommend the following for you before you get pregnant:

• a kidney biopsy
• medicines to work on your immune system
• blood pressure medicines
• prenatal vitamins and folic acid

Your healthcare provider may give you a low dose aspirin to take at the end of your first trimester to help lower your risk of preeclampsia.

What GN treatments are not safe in pregnancy?

Talk to your healthcare provider about what medicines are safe to take when you’re pregnant. Some medicines are safer than others. Your healthcare provider will look at how much the medicines help you and any risks to your baby.