Illustration of a pregnant woman with glowing kidneys, symbolizing healthy kidney development.

Kidney Health: Can Mom's Health During Pregnancy Make a Difference?

Theo Raines in Health & Wellness November 2025 • 4 min read.

"New research explores how a mother's health during and after pregnancy affects her child's kidney health, offering hope for managing conditions like Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)."

The health of a mother during pregnancy and immediately after childbirth has long-lasting effects on her child. Groundbreaking studies have shown that a mother's well-being during these crucial times can influence everything from the baby's weight at birth to their risk of developing diseases later in life, including high blood pressure, kidney problems, and diabetes.

When it comes to kidney health, these early stages of development are especially important. The kidneys are particularly susceptible to disturbances in the womb, with any issues potentially leading to reduced nephron endowment—the number of filtering units in the kidney. This reduction can lead to future health complications.

A recent study sheds light on how the prenatal and postnatal maternal environments impact kidney health, particularly concerning nephron endowment, renal function, and blood pressure in the context of Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD). PKD is a genetic disorder causing cysts to grow in the kidneys, which can lead to serious health issues. This research offers hope and potential strategies for mitigating the disease's impact through careful maternal care.

Understanding the Study: Maternal Health's Impact on Kidney Development

Illustration of a pregnant woman with glowing kidneys, symbolizing healthy kidney development.

The study, published in the Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, investigated the effects of maternal health on kidney development using a rodent model of PKD—the Lewis polycystic kidney (LPK) rat. Researchers compared LPK pups born and raised under different maternal conditions to understand how prenatal and postnatal environments influence kidney health.

Here's a breakdown of the groups studied:

Control Group (LPK): Pups born from and raised by mothers with the full PKD phenotype, representing a less-than-ideal prenatal and postnatal environment.
Postnatal Improvement Group (LPK:Pn): Pups born from LPK mothers but cross-fostered to healthy heterozygous LPK mothers immediately after birth, improving their postnatal environment.
Prenatal and Postnatal Improvement Group (LPK:Pr/Pn): Pups born from and raised by healthy heterozygous LPK mothers, thus experiencing improved prenatal and postnatal conditions.
Genetic Background Variation Group (WKY-LPK:Pr/Pn): Pups born from and raised by healthy heterozygous mothers on a different genetic background (Wistar Kyoto), to explore whether genetic factors play a role in outcomes.

Researchers tracked the pups' body weight, blood pressure, urine protein levels (an indicator of kidney function), and kidney structure to determine the impact of these varying maternal environments.

Key Findings and What They Mean for Kidney Health

The study revealed several significant findings:<ul><li>Nephron Endowment: LPK rats had approximately 25% fewer nephrons than their healthy counterparts, highlighting the impact of the disease on kidney development.</li><li>Improved Growth and Function: Pups in the improved environment groups (LPK:Pr/Pn and WKY-LPK:Pr/Pn) showed better postnatal growth, improved kidney function, and reduced blood pressure compared to the control group.</li><li>Genetic Influence: The WKY-LPK:Pr/Pn group, with a different genetic background, exhibited the most significant improvements, suggesting that genetic factors can interact with maternal environment to influence outcomes.</li><li>Postnatal Impact: Even improving the postnatal environment alone (LPK:Pn) led to some benefits, though less pronounced than when both prenatal and postnatal conditions were optimized.</li></ul>These findings underscore the importance of both prenatal and postnatal maternal health in shaping kidney development and function. A healthy maternal environment can mitigate the severity of PKD and potentially delay disease progression.

About this Article -

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This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1017/s2040174418000673, Alternate LINK

Title: Impact Of Prenatal And Postnatal Maternal Environment On Nephron Endowment, Renal Function And Blood Pressure In The Lewis Polycystic Kidney Rat

Subject: Medicine (miscellaneous)

Journal: Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease

Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)

Authors: A. Ding, S. L. Walton, K. M. Moritz, J. K. Phillips

Published: 2018-10-02

Everything You Need To Know

How does a mother's health during pregnancy and after childbirth affect her child's kidney health?

Maternal health during pregnancy and immediately after childbirth significantly influences a child's kidney health. Studies indicate that a mother's well-being can affect the baby's birth weight and their likelihood of developing diseases, including kidney problems. Disruptions during these early stages can lead to reduced nephron endowment, affecting future kidney function.

What specific model did the study utilize to explore Maternal Health's Impact on Kidney Development?

The study used a rodent model of Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), specifically the Lewis polycystic kidney (LPK) rat. Researchers compared LPK pups under different maternal conditions: a control group with LPK mothers, a postnatal improvement group (LPK:Pn) cross-fostered to healthy mothers, a prenatal and postnatal improvement group (LPK:Pr/Pn) born to healthy mothers, and a genetic variation group (WKY-LPK:Pr/Pn) with a different genetic background. They tracked body weight, blood pressure, urine protein levels, and kidney structure to assess the impact.

What were the key findings of the study regarding maternal health's impact on kidney health outcomes?

Key findings revealed that LPK rats had fewer nephrons than healthy rats. Improved maternal environments led to better postnatal growth, kidney function, and reduced blood pressure. The WKY-LPK:Pr/Pn group showed the most significant improvements, highlighting genetic interactions with the maternal environment. Improving the postnatal environment alone (LPK:Pn) had some benefits, but less than optimizing both prenatal and postnatal conditions. These results emphasize the importance of maternal health in shaping kidney development and potentially mitigating the severity of Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD).

What is Nephron Endowment and why is it important in the context of this study?

Nephron endowment refers to the number of filtering units in the kidney. The study found that LPK rats had approximately 25% fewer nephrons than healthy counterparts. A reduced nephron endowment can lead to future health complications. This is particularly concerning in the context of Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), where kidney function is already compromised. Ensuring optimal maternal health, especially during prenatal development, can improve nephron endowment and overall kidney health.

What are the potential implications of the study's findings for managing conditions like Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)?

The study suggests that maternal health interventions during pregnancy and after childbirth could mitigate the severity of Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) and potentially delay disease progression. Optimizing both prenatal and postnatal environments is crucial. Improved maternal care could lead to better nephron endowment, improved kidney function, and reduced blood pressure in offspring affected by PKD. This highlights the potential for early interventions to positively impact long-term kidney health outcomes.