What should you know about kidney stones in pregnancy third trimester?

A stone can cause flank or abdominal pain, nausea, painful urination or blood in urine. Pregnancy can also change urinary symptoms and make the location of pain harder to interpret. Dehydration from heat, vomiting or poor intake may concentrate urine. The symptom does not establish the cause, and late-pregnancy pain should not be self-diagnosed as a stone. Your maternity and medical teams can decide which assessment is appropriate.

Contact your maternity team, GP or urgent service for new flank pain, abdominal pain or urinary symptoms. An Abdominal Ultrasound may be considered because the clinician can choose imaging with pregnancy in mind. Use only pain medicines approved for you, and do not take leftover prescriptions. Sip fluids if you can, but seek help if vomiting prevents drinking or if you have been given a fluid restriction.

Seek urgent maternity or emergency care for fever or chills, severe or persistent pain, repeated vomiting, faintness, Difficulty Passing Urine, vaginal bleeding, fluid loss, regular contractions, or reduced fetal movement. Fever with Flank Pain may signal infection and needs prompt assessment.

Ask which service should assess you, which pain relief is suitable, whether imaging is needed, and which symptoms require immediate return. Tell them about contractions, fetal movement and any urinary changes.