Female Living Kidney Donor Buddy who had children post-donation...

[bkladane]

Hi everyone~

I would love to have a living kidney donor buddy--but with the entries listed for buddies on the site, I can't tell if any of the women donors have had children post-donation. I have two kidney donors in my life who have been a great help and a wealth of information, but I also feel like it would be good if I could talk to someone who is or was in a similar situation as I am. I'm 33 and will be donating to my 24-yr-old brother. I have no children but would like to have them...in fact my husband and I had planned on starting to try for a baby in April of this year, but that has been put on hold due to me being the suitable donor. I'm so happy to be able to do this for my brother, but sad that I have to wait even longer to have a child. Anyway, I think to talking to someone who has been pregnant post-donation would help ease some of my worries and fears.

Thanks!

[lawphi]

I have two distant friends that had babies with one kidney.  One was a transplant recipient and did very well.  The other was born with one kidney.

They did not have any issues with their renal function and did not develop preeclampsia in their respective pregnancies. 

[sherri]

you can ask your hospital to find a donor buddy for you. they should follow their donors up for at least 2 years and maybe they can find someone who has had a pregnancy post donation. There are quite a few articles about pregnanacy post donation and you can also speak with your OB.

good luck.

Sherri

[Fr Pat]

     While most donors have a good recovery, there are some who do suffer short-term or long-term complications. So access to disability insurance can be an important factor to keep in mind. Some donors have had serious financial difficulties when their recovery was delayed.
   best wishes,
       Fr. Pat

[budeedee]

I donated my kidney to my husband 3 years ago.  We had a 2-1/2 year old at the time, and knew we would want more children.  This past December we added another little one to our family.  I had a completely normal pregnancy and was not considered high risk at all.  I would be happy to answer any questions you might have about my experience.

[lawphi]

Which hurt worst? 

[bkladane]

budeedee: thanks for responding to my post. which kidney did you donate?

[budeedee]

my left

[lawphi]

I have a friend of a friend that donated a kidney twos years ago and is four months along.  Her doctor is not treating her as high risk and everything has gone great so far.  I will try to talk her into posting about her experience, as she is very active with living donors at her center. 

[Fr Pat]

     Just bouncing this up to the top, as someone recently posted a question about post-donation pregnancy.
   Fr Pat

[MissFrizz]

Lawphi, good question!!

[wlillie]

I've had two c-sections post donation. The kidney recovery was the hardest, but I think that's because I didn't know what to expect. I think that because It's a lot easier recovering from this second c-section than the first. I was initially told at this hospital I would be considered high risk, but the doctor thought I was the recipient and not the donor. Once he actually looked at my chart and listened to me, he left me alone. I even had fewer appts than most people because I was doing so well.

[lawphi]

Thank you wlillie for sharing! 

Miss frizz - NOT FUNNY!

We are working on a little one and I do not have any fertility issues due to donating.

[Catherine C]

Sorry, it has been such a long time since I've been on the board.  I donated in 2001 and had my second daughter in 2002.  I didn't have any problems after the donation getting pregnant and I wasn't considered high risk etc.
Best,
Catherine Cullen

[Catherine C]

As I recently posted--11 yrs. post donation and doing well.  And yes, had a child post donation.