The Patient Experience of Kidney Disease and Pregnancy

Achieving parenthood is often a priority and goal for women with chronic kidney disease (CKD). It can be challenging due to medical and emotional complexities around pregnancy planning and care, increased risk of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes, fears about medications such as immunosuppressants and fetal harm, and concerns regarding the impact of pregnancy on women's kidney health. Navigating the pathways for shared decision-making regarding parenthood requires an understanding of the patient's experiences, values, priorities, and needs. In this review, we describe the patient perspective of high-risk pregnancies including those complicated by CKD and outline recommendations for counseling that incorporate these perspectives to improve the patient experience.