Back to Top Kidney specialist helps at-risk women through pregnancies - The Ottawa Hospital Website scanner for suspicious and malicious URLs
 

toh

Kidney specialist helps at-risk women through pregnancies

 

After years of trying to have children, Dawn Lau and her husband, Troy Lau, are happy to finally be able to hold their sons, Ethan and baby Isaac.

He is the “go-to” doctor in the Ottawa area for treating pregnant women with kidney disease. And patients like Dawn Lau are grateful to Dr. Ayub Akbari for his supportive, attentive, responsive care that even includes handing out his personal phone number in case patients need to reach him.

“He even took the time to call me for an update on a Saturday afternoon once, which I thought was great care, and so kind,” said Lau, who was finally able to have children – two lovely boys.

A nephrologist who specializes in treating pregnant women with kidney disease, Dr. Akbari and RN Claude Baril are the nephrology pregnancy team at The Ottawa Hospital’s Riverside Campus. Baril, the primary contact for patients, is an expert in teaching patients to monitor their home blood pressure.

Lau has been a patient of Dr. Akbari’s for more than three years. After having a liver transplant, she had to take antirejection medication, which gave her high blood pressure and caused decreased kidney function. Lau struggled with fertility issues and, as a result, underwent five years of fertility treatments. During that time, she met with Dr. Akbari, who advised her about the risks she faced with pregnancy. Despite the risks, she decided it was worth it, and when she got pregnant she was thrilled.

Image Dr. Akbari and RN Claude Baril

Kidney specialists in the Ottawa area usually refer their pregnant patients, as well as those who want to get pregnant, to The Ottawa Hospital’s: Dr. Ayub Akbari (right) and RN Claude Baril.

“Since my pregnancy went well, I kept seeing him every few months because I knew I would want to try for another baby,” said Lau. Her next pregnancy went smoothly as well, although she had to be induced early because of high blood pressure, as with the birth of her first child. She and her husband, Troy Lau, now have two young boys, Ethan and Isaac.

Dr. Akbari’s interest in this field began when, as a primary care doctor, he and many colleagues didn’t know how to offer the specialized support needed by pregnant women with medical complications. At the University of Chicago, where he completed his nephrology fellowship, he was inspired to specialize in nephrology and pregnancy by his mentor, Dr. Marshall Lindhiemer, a world-wide kidney disease and pregnancy expert.

“I really liked it,” Dr. Akbari said. “The body of a woman changes completely during pregnancy, so what is normal for a non-pregnant woman might be abnormal in a pregnant woman, and vice versa. The whole physiology changes. It made me think I should specialize in this area. After that, I glued myself to Dr. Lindhiemer and did a year of studying pregnancy and kidney disease, and it has been my passion since then.”

Dr. Ayub Akbari (left), Administrative Assistant Anna Micucci, and RN Claude Baril support women through their high-risk pregnancies.

As The Ottawa Hospital’s nephrology pregnancy team, Dr. Ayub Akbari (left), Administrative Assistant Anna Micucci, and RN Claude Baril support women through their high-risk pregnancies.

He said he enjoys the challenge of working with these unique patients.

“The majority of kidney disease patients are older, but these are young women. There’s a lot at stake. You’re caring for two patients – the baby as well as the mother,” he said. “A bad outcome is catastrophic.”

Pregnancy and kidney disease is a relatively uncommon combination. So, kidney specialists in the Ottawa area usually refer their pregnant patients, as well as those who want to get pregnant, to Dr. Akbari, who has seen patients from as far as Kingston.

He and Baril make a point of being very responsive, attentive and approachable to their patients, even giving them his personal phone number for reassurance. They build relationships with their patients, supporting their emotional needs as well as their physical.

“Any time I called, they were really quick to get back to me and answer any questions or help with the concerns I had,” said Lau, who has continued to see Dr. Akbari since the birth of baby Isaac in December 2017. “He always gave me options and took my emotions into account.”

“We are here for you and will do whatever we can to help you,” is Dr. Akbari’s message to women with kidney disease who want to get pregnant.

 
Comment

Comment on this post

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*


You might also like…

Ask Masi: A new support tool for front-line perinatal care providers

Parents will often describe welcoming a new child as one of the happiest times of their lives. But physicians, midwives, nurses and others on the front lines will tell you that this is not always the case for their patients. A new service for care providers called Ask Masi is here to help.

The comfort of home: Home Dialysis Program empowers patients to live more independent lives

For people living with kidney failure, the most ideal form of dialysis treatment is done in the place where they are most comfortable—their home. Five years ago, we transformed our Home Dialysis Program, enhancing quality of life for our patients, welcoming more patients, and turning it into a model for dialysis programs across the province.

Angèle crushes triathlons and myths about living kidney donors

There’s no shortage of myths about living kidney donation. You may have heard that donors should no longer participate in sports or try to get pregnant. Well, meet Angèle. She’s a triathlete, a mother and a living kidney donor who gave her father a new life 13 years ago.

Becoming a living kidney donor has never been easier: Trina and Antonio’s story

Kidney donors like Trina usually face many months of tests, but a new program at The Ottawa Hospital allowed her to complete nearly all of them in just one day. Trina shares her experience as a living donor and how this new program made it easier to give her brother the gift of life.

Miscarriage and pregnancy loss: Ashley’s story

Chances are you know someone who has had a miscarriage or pregnancy loss. It affects thousands of families in Canada each year. Learn the signs, symptoms and causes of miscarriage, and read Ashley’s story to know that you are not alone.

A new era in breast health at The Ottawa Hospital

The Breast Health Centre at The Ottawa Hospital is committed to providing an exceptional level of care for our patients, approaching each case with medical excellence, practice, and compassion. Read more «

This website gives you common facts, advice and tips. Some of it may not apply to you. Please talk to your doctor, nurse or other health-care team member to see if this information will work for you. They can also answer your questions and concerns.