Dilated Kidneys

kamroberts · July 2016

Hello Fellow Mamas,

I had another anatomy scan performed last Saturday to get another measurement of my baby because he's been consistently measuring ahead by 2 weeks. I just received an email from my Doctor yesterday saying that the results were in. She stated that everything was normal except that my baby's left kidney is "a little dilated". She said, "his left kidney is a little dilated. Usually this will resolve during the course of your pregnancy or shortly after birth. Your pediatrician will follow up after your baby is born."
I couldn't help but immediately go to google and research all about dilated kidneys in unborn babies. I found out that enlarged kidneys are a soft marker for Downs Syndrome, and that it is the most common soft marker that usually ends up resolving itself. My initial 20 week scan came back completely normal and this scan was normal aside from the dilated kidney.

Has anyone else recieved any similar news regarding their baby's kidney? What was the outcome? I hate that I always worry about everything but it's so hard not to.

Thanks in advance!

blaf322 · July 2016

I knew this had been discussed some before but couldn't remember where. Here's what I found from a quick search

it was in the anatomy scan thread but wasn't discussed much past that

MRSCORKER · July 2016

My little guy still has a dilated left kidney and I was told the same as you, that it will likely resolve in utero. At my AS, both kidneys were dilated, the right has since corrected and we're waiting on the left. I have another scan in a few weeks to check again but my OB isn't worried and there was never any mention of it in connection with downs. All of our chromosome tests have been normal so that thought never even crossed my mind. I've been told over and over by the US techs and my OB that this is not uncommon and it's not something to worry about.

ashleyp625 · July 2016

My Guy's kidneys were enlarged at my first A/S at 18 weeks, and had resolved by 22 weeks. My doctor said the same as Mrscorker's- if it hadn't, we would see a urologist after birth, but they weren't worried and said it was a common thing.

kamroberts · July 2016

@MRSCORKER my OB also doesn't seem worried about it and hasn't mentioned anything about the connection to Downs. I need to stay away from Google, because it makes me a nervous wreck. I opted out of the chromosomal testing earlier on in my pregnancy and now I'm wishing I didn't so I could have the peace of mind of knowing.

Im so glad that your little guys' kidney corrected itself already. How far In between did you wait to have the second anatomy scan done? I have to have another scan at 36 weeks so hopefully his kidney gets better by then. My OB said that they usually correct themselves in Utero and that I shouldn't worry. It's just so hard for me not to worry sometimes (especially with my googling habits).

Kc0825 · July 2016

We've been dealing with this for a little over a month now. We've had 3 ultrasounds monitoring the situation. Our little guy has fluid in other kidneys and we started at 4 and 5 and now it's at 6 and 7. I know it's hard not to worry. Our fetal specialist explained to us how goggle stresses all these scary things about baby like downs and the need for surgery but in reality he said ad long as your quad test was good your babys kidneys have nothing to do with downs. Surgery is a last resort. If your number gets to 10, after the baby's born they just put them on medicine to help with blockage or whatever and it usually clears up on its own. So stay off goggle and talk with your doctor. You can never ask too many questions. I know I've asked them all. A nurse friend of mine is also dealing with this in their pregnancy. It's very very common. Let me know if you have any questions/ concerns I may be able to help.

kamroberts · July 2016

@ashleyp625 thank you for commenting and sharing that you experienced a similar situation. Hopefully this baby's little kidney gets less dialated by my next scan in 6 weeks.

MRSCORKER · July 2016

Both of his kidneys were dilated at 18 weeks. I had a repeat scan at 22 weeks and the left was still dilated but the right had corrected itself. I had another scan at 26 weeks and the left was still slightly dilated so we're going to check again at 32 weeks.

kamroberts · July 2016

@Kc0825 thanks so much for sharing your experience. I am going in to see my OB on Thursday and I already have a long list of questions I am going to ask. I just hate how vague the email I got was. She didn't mention how dialated his kidney was or anything, just that it was a little dilated and that the issue usually resolves before or shortly after birth.
I called the doctor's office to get the specific details and I just got off the phone with a Midwife. She told me that his left kidney was at a 7.4 and that I shouldn't worry about Downs because there were no other concerns that indicated any more soft markers. She was super sweet and said that she knew I denied the genetic testing because I didn't want to worry, and she said that I should just try to forget that I read that and not worry about it.

klv · July 2016

No experience myself but during my anatomy scan the tech said that was really common in boys and it usually resolves itself

mrszoess · July 2016

my doctor mentioned it at 20 weeks and by 24 said nothing

bieberm04 · August 2016

I agree STAY OFF google, I was going to get an US every 4 weeks but now have to go every 2 weeks because of the cysts on her kidneys and the 1st thing our Dr. said was do not run to google. It is hard not too but worry but most of the time these issues either resolve themselves.

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