Introduction: Pregnancy is a period of physiological changes in a woman's body. First changes occur after egg fertilization and continue to take place until labour. Pregnancy with associated chronic kidney disease can cause serious health complications in pregnant women and foetuses. The risk of chronic kidney disease complications is higher in pregnant women with associated chronic diseases than in women with no associated chronic diseases. Purpose: The aim of the paper is to describe, through an overview of professional and scientific literature, anatomical and physiological changes during pregnancy and present the impact of chronic kidney disease on pregnant women and foetuses. Methods: In the paper, a descriptive work method is used. We carried out an overview of professional and scientific literature written in Slovene and English. The literature was searched from April to November 2020, and obtained on the PUBMED, MEDLINE, CINAHL, SCIENCE DIRECT, and DLIB databases as well as through the COBISS+ system. Results: During each pregnancy, different complications may occur, which are more common in pregnant women with associated chronic diseases. A key factor in ensuring safe pregnancy is consultation with specialists regarding how pregnancy is planned and monitored. However, complications can be expected in women with associated chronic diseases. Kidney impairment and impaired kidney function may even become more severe due to pregnancy. Health specialists advise against pregnancy in case of extremely increased concentrations of serum creatinine and decreased values of glomerular filtration. All changes and serious complications may result in a premature labour, caesarean section, prematurity, intrauterine foetal demise and maternal death. Discussion and conclusion: Women with a chronic kidney disease are advised to get pregnant in the early stage of the disease. Pregnant women should be under regular professional supervision in order to monitor the course of pregnancy and early detect possible complications, which can be a risk to pregnant women and foetuses.
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