3rd Trimester

LO's kidneys..

I mostly lurk here but I haven't been able to stop thinking about this. I had my 31 week checkup on Monday, and Dr wants to start every other week now. She had said last time that I might get a 2nd u/s before my due date, but at this visit she said baby and I are healthy enough that unless something comes up, I don't need another u/s. We've been blessed with a strangely smooth pregnancy. No morning sickness or bleeding, "perfect" readings on blood pressure, etc. It's almost weird to me that nothing out of the ordinary has happened. Anyway, at our 20 wk anatomy scan, baby was measuring 2 days behind but Dr said that's not even enough to change my due date and she'd most likely catch up. Baby looked healthy on the scan, and she's been growing enough and moving a lot (way stronger than I expected!). So right before the visit ended, Dr mentions that baby's left kidney was 2.1cm dilated; she said normal is 4 cm but the dilation wasn't enough to cause any concern. I told Dr that my sister has a left duplex system (meaning she has 2 joined kidneys on the left side) and asked if it could be related. Dr said she would look at the u/s again and see if it could be, but said baby definitely only has 1 kidney on each side and it's not an issue. I guess I'm just concerned cuz when my sister was born, she was preemie and had some scary health issues. She had to stay in the hospital for a while, and at the time a duplex system wasn't very well researched. They weren't sure she was gonna make it, but she did and is totally healthy except for some self-inflicted problems from enjoying college a little too much. I read up on it though and apparently there's a genetic predisposition to it. I trust my Dr but I also would rather know now if something's wrong, and I'm going to bring it up again at the next visit. It kinda made me realize that an easy (so far) pregnancy doesn't guarantee anything. I guess I just needed somewhere to talk about it. Sorry this was so long!

Re: LO's kidneys..

  • i would definitely talk about it with your dr. again and if anything maybe ask her for another scan.  you have to go with your gut on these things and ask for things if you want them, don't just trust dr.s.  good luck with everything.  thinking something might be wrong with you lo, especially if you know someone in your family that has issues can be very scary.  
  • I have come to realize that I am not too sure an "easy" pregnancy is on the cards for any of us. I constantly worry about if there will be something wrong with LO. I am sure this is only the beginning of the worry she will cause me over the years to come! and thats putting aside my cramping, sickness, fatigue, mood swings, fat days etc..

    The best thing is to try not to get too stressed about it. They can do so much with technology these days, they can clearly see the kidneys on each side. We had a similar situation at my first u/sound and that was that her ureter was enlarged so it could mean a blockage. after over a month went by we had another and it turned out it was nothing, no enlargement they must of measured or seen something else I.e the umbilical cord may of been in the way. But I still worry even though I have reassurance from my Dr. I just think its normal to worry no matter what!

    Easier said than done, you have some weeks to go yet try not to get too worked up. Have another anatomy scan, and hopefully that will put your mind at rest! and good luck!! :) 

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  • Have you been to a perinatologist, or is this just what your normal OB is telling you?  My DD had huge kidney issues in utero and out and ended up with 2 huge surgeries out of it.  We went to a peri every 2-4 weeks from 18wks pg on, granted, her issues were huge, but it helped knowing we were going to an expert.
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  • She's my normal ob/gyn. Honestly, I never bothered to learn what the difference between an ob/gyn and a perinatologist is! I'm gonna ask her if we can take another look at LO next visit just to be sure everything's ok.
  • Here is another way that it could go - had our 20 week scan and our little girl showed mild kidney dilation as well.  We were told by the high risk doctor that it something that isn't of great concern and that 9 out of 10 times the dilation will correct itself before the baby was even born.  We went back at 24/25 weeks and she did just that....grew into her kidenys.  So, understanding that there is history within your family that gives you great concern (and rightfully so!) maybe another U/S is all you really need to make sure that her kidneys are back on track?  I know it is so hard not to worry but this is a very common "abnormailty" that shows on 20 week U/Ss and the dilation is very slight.
  • imageWhatJustHappened:
    Here is another way that it could go - had our 20 week scan and our little girl showed mild kidney dilation as well.  We were told by the high risk doctor that it something that isn't of great concern and that 9 out of 10 times the dilation will correct itself before the baby was even born.  We went back at 24/25 weeks and she did just that....grew into her kidenys.  So, understanding that there is history within your family that gives you great concern (and rightfully so!) maybe another U/S is all you really need to make sure that her kidneys are back on track?  I know it is so hard not to worry but this is a very common "abnormailty" that shows on 20 week U/Ss and the dilation is very slight.

     

    I agree!!  I am in a very similar situation.  On my 20 week u/s they found mild dilation in both kidneys.  I am having a follow up u/s at my glucose screening this monday.  I totally understand your worries, I would just ask if you can get another u/s to see your LO progress, so if nothing else, it helps you feel more relaxed about the situation.

  • It never hurts to ask! I'm going through a similar situation, my LO's kidneys are being monitored every month because the u/s tech saw something, told my doctor, doctor scheduled an appt. with a specialist, specialist checked it out and decided we needed to watch it. I was terribly worrying at first, but I'm prepared to handle whatever comes our way. At least we know.
  • I would ask for another ultrasound to check on the progress.  We went for a 2nd anatomy scan when I was 27 weeks because the first they couldn't get a good view of his spine.  At this last ultrasound they found dilation of his kidney and we have a 2d ultrasound scheduled for the 18th with the maternal fetal medicine clinic.  I was very nervous at first but I'm holding out hope that it resolves on it's own.  I'm sort of grateful that we had a second anatomy scan so that they were able to spot this.  I don't know what the sex of your baby is, but I understand that this is fairly common with boys and from googling this, 1/2 the time it resolves itself before birth, if not they do an ultrasound on the baby after birth and if very severe, the baby will require surgery.  Hopefully for both of us, it is nothing to worry about.
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  • It's good to hear that this is common but usually resolves itself! Thanks everyone for the reassurance. The Dr said it was pretty common to see, especially early on, and that it usually fixes itself. I'm definitely asking for another look though, just to be sure!

    Nellebelle- we're having a girl :) I hope it turns out to be nothing for your LO too! 

  • We were just told last week that one of our sons kidneys is dilated due to blockage. We have a follow up u/s in a few weeks and he'll get one in hospital after birth to determine severity and if it can be fixed. The Mfm doc I saw said it's not likely to resolve on it's own before birth.
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