Kidney blockage in ultrasound

khall7109 · August 2014

I'm 20 weeks along. My ob called me to say that the baby has a blockage from her kidney, but not to worry about it. We will have a second ultrasound at 30 weeks. The problem should have fixed itself by now, and the placenta is doing the work now so there will be no long term damage. Has anyone been through this before? I'm freaking out a bit, is there anything I can do to help?

bbynixon2 · August 2014

Sorry, im a FTM and have not heard of this. But like others have said before, if your doctor isn't too concerned, then try not to worry about it. I know, easier said then done. Good luck to you and your LO!

jenkellen · August 2014

First of all big (((HUGS)))!

I do not have personal experience with this, but I do recall a coworker having something similar. I think when their son was born they just had to do some extra monitoring but there were no complications and they have a very healthy happy 4 year old now.

That 10 week wait would drive me bonkers. I might request getting one in 5 weeks just to ease my crazy.

caden1206 · August 2014

I have no experience, but I hope all is ok.

megbmeg · August 2014

I'm sorry for this scare! It sounds like you'll just need to wait it out and trust that doc is right and LO will work this out of given time. But I'm sure it is really hard not to stress. Hugs!!!

rshamos · August 2014

No experience but at least your doc isn't worried! It is so hard to not think about it but we're here for you. I would be in panic mode too. FX all turns out well

ninee88 · August 2014

Nothing to add other than FX this resolves quickly!

khall7109 · August 2014

Thank you all.

Dfarmer1019 · August 2014

I do not have experience with the blockage of the kidney, but at my A/S, my doctor told me that one of baby boys kidneys was enlarged. He told me not to worry about it as well as it is fairly common and should repair itself. I also have another ultrasound planned for 32 weeks. I am truly sorry for this scare! I know how fearful it can be! The wait is driving me insane! I really hope everything turns out to be just fine for you and baby! I know it's easier said than done, but do not stress out too much!

nchwrd · August 2014

I lurk...a lot...:) but I wanted to chime in for you. My DD (now 3yrs) had this discovered at 20 weeks. We got many ultrasounds and they said it would fix, most of the time it does. Hers was still there at birth then again every month after. We had surgery at 16 months old and she's totally healthy and fine. My OB said she has NEVERseen hydronephrosis not clear up before birth so I guess we were a rare case, and even in our case she was healthy before and after. We just have to watch for UTIs which she's only ever had one after her surgery. Good luck, it's scary to hear but usually it does clear up before birth or within the first 6 months of life. Hope this helps.

brittandjp · August 2014

Dfarmer1019 said:

I do not have experience with the blockage of the kidney, but at my A/S, my doctor told me that one of baby boys kidneys was enlarged. He told me not to worry about it as well as it is fairly common and should repair itself. I also have another ultrasound planned for 32 weeks. I am truly sorry for this scare! I know how fearful it can be! The wait is driving me insane! I really hope everything turns out to be just fine for you and baby! I know it's easier said than done, but do not stress out too much!

This happened when I was pregnant with DD @Dfarmer1019. Both of her kidneys were enlarged, which is a soft marker for Downs. We of course spent the entire rest of my pregnancy worrying. We continued to monitor her kidneys throughout the rest of my pregnancy with several anatomy scans. Though they went down, they always measured big. We were honestly terrified. But she was born perfectly healthy! She had an ultrasound within 24 hours after birth and her kidneys were the perfect size. I hope that gives you hope!

OP, I know it's hard hearing that everything isn't perfect, but if I've learned anything, it's that so many of the results you get from an anatomy scan tend to be precautionary comments. Babies are still developing and each baby develops at a slightly difference pace; everything ends up being perfectly fine.

Dfarmer1019 · August 2014

@brittandjp thank you for that! We are a nervous wreck because he did tell us it was a soft marker for Downs. But he also said that he did not see any other signs of Downs, so we are holding on too that hope, though, we will love baby boy the same no matter what! I am very happy to hear that everything went perfectly fine in your case! That does give me hope! Thanks again!

JCM285 · August 2014

I have no experience but wanted to send you hugs and best wishes that this resolves on its own.

ColeyCannoli · August 2014

Nothing to add but I hope and pray it clears up and everything is fine by the time your LO is born. If the doctor isn't worried, it is probably nothing to stress over. Good luck!

BdblZ · August 2014

Big hugs! I'm sure everything will work out fine.

No experience with this myself, but a close friend was told this for her baby - they used the term Hydronephrosis - unsure if this is exactly the same as for you. But either way baby was perfectly healthy, and the problem corrected itself!

runnerbikergirl · August 2014

I'm going through the same thing right now! The anxiety is horrible. I feel helpless just waiting. I decided to really focus on eating more foods that are healthy for the urinary tract (cranberry, cherries, etc ), with hopes it will go from my system into the baby's. I also have been doing a lot of meditation and visualization of her kidney being unblocked. It at least makes me feel like I'm doing something! Hang in there.

DoctorWorm222 · August 2014

My DD had a "dilated kidney" (I think that's what they called in) in one of her later ultrasounds. They basically told me that it could be as simple as her needing to pee just before the picture was taken or as serious as a structural defect that could require surgery after birth. I one of the docs even mentioned that it could be a "soft marker" for a more serious condition, like Downs. Of course, I'm an olympic scale worrier, so that's exactly what I did. Whatever it was, it resolved itself by the next ultrasound 4 weeks later.

Something that might help ease your mind ... I think one of the docs told me that the structural defects were far more common in boys, so my OB basically said that the fact that I was expecting a girl made her even more convinced that it was nothing.

I predict that your blocked kidney will unblock itself too. Try not to worry.

khall7109 · August 2014

I'm doing the same

EmuTavi · August 2014

I just lost our baby due to NO functioning kidneys. I have been researching kidneys for the past 2 weeks. As long as baby has 1 properly functioning kidney I would not worry. According to my research many people survive life with one kidney having no clue they only have one. As far as the blockage goes, it should resolve itself. Relax

hzander2013 · August 2014

We just had U/S earlier this week, dilated kidney measuring at 4.1 when should be at 4. They want me back at 32 weeks for another, but since they were unable to get a sneak peak at baby's goodies they want me back in two to see if he/she is ready to quit being so modest.

I was told to not stress over kidney, they didn't even mention the Downs marker. Of course my husband googles and freaked out worried, but I'm certain it will work itself out and have seen multiple instances where this is quite common with boys.

Best of luck! And thinking good thoughts. The waiting is tough and I recommend scheduling an extra U/S between now and 32 to ease your mind a bit.

LSauer21 · August 2014

Omg I was freaking out too! When I went for my AS they said there was fluid in the kidneys and something about the opening being dilated. I doctor at the prenatal office was extreme hard to understand when she came in to check the techs work. The tech told me everything was great and looking good. Then when the dr, not my OB and not one I will ever see again, said "there's some fluid and one is dilated, it's a sign of DS but best case the baby will be born with a UTI. We'll check again at 34 weeks." And left that was a Thursday Monday I went to my regular ob saw my favorite of 5 drs and he said everything looks great with the AS they don't chart the sex can I guess what you're having? I say ok and he says a boy?? I tell him yes and ask how he knew? He said it's common in boys to have a small marker on the kidney bc they are subborn and hold in pee and show some fluid. Of course my response was so he doesn't have DS? Which led my dr to scream WHAT?!?! Not at all why would you even think that??? I went through the whole story and he rechecked everything and said no and the dr you saw over there is fairly new and didn't mark anything about DS take it from me he's healthy and fine you have the sequential screening and that was all perfect too. Of course I used google and saw how common it is in boys. Also after talking to ppl 5 family/friends said at least one of their sons had the same issue.
Sorry this is so long! Think positive ❤️

Abeja1226 · August 2014

nchwrd said:
I lurk...a lot...:) but I wanted to chime in for you. My DD (now 3yrs) had this discovered at 20 weeks. We got many ultrasounds and they said it would fix, most of the time it does. Hers was still there at birth then again every month after. We had surgery at 16 months old and she's totally healthy and fine. My OB said she has NEVERseen hydronephrosis not clear up before birth so I guess we were a rare case, and even in our case she was healthy before and after. We just have to watch for UTIs which she's only ever had one after her surgery. Good luck, it's scary to hear but usually it does clear up before birth or within the first 6 months of life. Hope this helps.

My son also had hydro NOT clear up after birth. He was on a small dose antibiotic for a few months and eventually by the time he was 6 months old his kidneys were a normal size, he had one more ultrasound 6 months later and was completely cleared! My daughter also had this in utero but hers cleared up before birth. I was shocked when number 3 had perfectly fine kidneys during the anatomy scan.

I know it is hard not to worry but surgery is very rare and even when it is needed it is very simple and an easy problem to fix. Hydronephrosis is the most common "defect" found on the anatomy scan.

sarahlynne30 · August 2014

Just had an ultrasound and I'm 22 weeks; baby boy also has an enlarged kidney. Dr said on a scale of 10 it's like a 2 but no worries...apparently it's common in boys. It's hard not to worry!! Everything will turn out ok

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