Extra fluid around baby's kidneys - experiences?

luvinlifeMN · September 2014

Hi! I had my anatomy scan last week and everything measured and looked fine except for the kidneys which showed extra fluid surrounding them. The tech said the baby is likely not processing urine correctly, but it could also be a chromosome issue. My OB stated she did not think it would turn out to be a chromosome issue because everything else measured normal. They are sending me for a level II ultrasound. I wish I had asked more questions and I am avoiding Dr. Google because I think it will worry me. What exactly are they looking for at the level II? Just another measurement for confirmation? It sounded like this issue may or may not fix itself. Does that mean I go again sometime down the road to check the fluid levels again?

Sorry if I am rambling - just looking to see if anyone else has been through this, what the outcome was, and what testing was done between now and birth (or after, for that matter).

Thank you!

JCWhitey · September 2014

Not 100% sure but this sounds like what they found in my son's u/s, but in that case it was a dating scan around 14 weeks and not the a/s. By the a/s the fluid was gone and all was fine with both kidneys (they also couldn't find the second kidney, just the fluid). So in my case it did correct, but it did so a lot earlier in pregnancy. I'd definitely wait until the second scan before you start to panic at all and just talk to your doctor about the results.

EmR22 · September 2014

I had this with my son. I was told it was a urological issue hydronephrosis. It was discovered at my 20 week ultrasound so I went back at 36 weeks for another and it was still present. After he was born he had an ultrasound at about ~10 days old and they decided to just monitor it. He had another at 3 months and 9 months and a VCUG ( measures reflux from bladder to kidneys). It has remained stable and not worsened so he goes for his next ultrasound in dec and has been referred to a urologist. Best case scenario I was told he would just need to be monitored through his life and worse case he would need minor surgery to correct it

Hope that helps some. I understand a lot of cases do clear up by themselves ours just hasn't yet.

schnitz9 · September 2014

This might sound like a crazy question but, do you know if you're having a boy? The reason I ask is that bladder/kidney reflux is more common in boys and sometimes it presents itself as fluid on the kidney. The tubes from the kidneys to the bladder are also wider than normal. I had this as a child. Less common for a girl. I had VCUG's and eventually corrective surgery when I was 11. If that is what it turns out to be its not as bad as it sound. It can be corrected with surgery that is very non-invasive now. And like PP stated many children are able to grow out of it. Good luck with the level II and FX everything is OK with the baby.

dianeg1017 · September 2014

My DD had urinary utera reflux "kidney reflux" she took antibiotics for a year but her body grew and it corrected itself without surgery. Unfortunately due to her urinary system not working correctly her bowels wind it up not working correctly and she had problems having bowel movements and severe constipation. She is now 5 and still takes miralax. Docs said that it was all due her urinary reflux as a baby.

schnitz9 · September 2014

dianeg1017 said:

My DD had urinary utera reflux "kidney reflux" she took antibiotics for a year but her body grew and it corrected itself without surgery. Unfortunately due to her urinary system not working correctly her bowels wind it up not working correctly and she had problems having bowel movements and severe constipation. She is now 5 and still takes miralax. Docs said that it was all due her urinary reflux as a baby.

@dianeg1017 so sorry that you're DD has bowel troubles now. She is lucky that she was able to grow out of the reflux though. I wasn't and had to have extensive surgery when I was almost 11. Spent almost a month in the hospital. Have permanent scaring on my kidneys and the UTI's returned once I turned 17. I get about 3-4 a year now and have to pay very close attention as I no longer no if i have them since I got used to the pain. Are you still monitoring it? It sometimes can come back once a child goes through puberty.

luvinlifeMN · September 2014

Thanks, ladies. We went for the level II ultrasound at the fetal center at our hospital yesterday. While there is still excess fluid on the kidney's, the specialist felt like it was a low enough amount that he (yes, HE!) would grow out of it and decided no further testing was needed. While I am thrilled, it still makes me nervous to know there is still excess fluid and the only solution is 'he will grow out of it in all likelihood.' I wish they would allow the follow up u/s at 32 weeks just to make sure it was corrected which was the time frame I was originally told would be for follow up.

She did say my risk for a chromosome abnormality (which would likely be Downs Syndrome) was less than 1% based on the other indicators they look at which makes me happy, too.

dianeg1017 · September 2014

@luvinlifeMN‌ congrats on the boy. I'm glad you got further clarification and it's something he will grow out of.

@schnitz9‌ I kept telling the dr that something was wrong she screamed her pain cry all the time. first UTI when she was just a few months old the doctors told me that it's near impossible for an infant especially girl to get a UTI. At the time I was working in a nursing home and I just knew what to look for. After testing they confirmed that it was the urinary reflux. But the trauma of having her straight Cathed at six months one year and two years and 3years old she to this day is still terrified of the doctor. I still keep a close eye for UTI symptoms. Sorry to hear that yours was that extensive kidney issues are not fun to live with. I had kidney stones when I was pregnant with her and I was terrified that I passed it along to her. Lol that's not the case. Good luck to both of you ladies.

schnitz9 · September 2014

@dianeg1017 thanks! My fear was not really of the dr it was more of actually going to the bathroom. I eventually learned to hold it because I knew it would hurt. This obviously worked against me as it made the matters worse. As an adult it still is a problem and I am still working on it. Luckily today with all the medical advancements the tests and procedures they are not as invasive as they used to be. Unfortunately I was not diagnosed until I was 5 years old. Its terrible that she had to go through that so young. Good luck to you guys!

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