Anyone else have this show up on their sono with baby's kidney?

So, at my 20 week sono the doctor found something with my baby's kidney. From the research I have found and how the doctor described it, it's an 'issue' with the dilation of the area in the center of the kidney where the urine is collected. My doctor did say that most of the time this 'issue' is resolved before birth and most babies are born healthy, but I can't help but be concerned. He is sending to a specialist for another sonogram. Has anyone else been through this? Do you mind sharing your experience?

TIA for all your help!

Re: Anyone else have this show up on their sono with baby's kidney?

I think my babies both had this and were born perfectly healthy

Re: Anyone else have this show up on their sono with baby's kidney?

Yes..they monitored it and the Dr said it is common and usually everything is fine.

Re: Anyone else have this show up on their sono with baby's kidney?

Both my sons had this and I was so scared. I freaked out over nothing and was told that boys tend to have this all the time. They were both born perfectly healthy! The problem went away right after birth just like the doctor said it would.

Re: Anyone else have this show up on their sono with baby's kidney?

They saw the same thing with my son. It's called hydronephrosis. A lot of boy babies are born with this and it tends to clear up with birth. Unfortunately for me it didn't. My son has VUR (vesticular urinary reflux). His urine goes back into the kidneys before it comes out. It doesn't hurt him and could go away in time depending on what stage it is. He has stage 2-3 and will probably need surgery by age 3 (next April). It's not a dangerous condition as long as it's monitored. He was on preventitive antibiotics for a year. The problem is that they can get urinary tract infections which over time can scar the kidneys and cause problems. Every time he has a fever his urine needs to be checked. He's a normal, happy little boy and from what I've learned it's very common and not something to worry too much about.

I saw Dr. Palmer (chief of urology at LIJ). He's very well known on Long Island. I liked him a lot but because my son will probably need to have surgery so we are now using Dr. Schlussel who is the chief of urology at Columbia Presbyterian in the city. It's one of the best hospitals around and if surgery needs to be done that's where we are most comfortable.

Let me know if you have any more questions.

Re: Anyone else have this show up on their sono with baby's kidney?

Yes, they found it with both our little 's kidneys at the 18 weeks level 2. They called it hydronephrosis. We have a Level 2 every 4 weeks until last week and it completely cleared up. The doc said it is very common for this to happen with babies. Everything is still immature and still developing. By 36 weeks, it had cleared up. They said worse case, she would need an ultrasound a week after birth and have to have a stint to correct the problem but she won't need that. It could clear up on it's own.

Message edited 7/23/2009 7:18:11 AM.

Re: Anyone else have this show up on their sono with baby's kidney?

Our little showed hydronephrosis at my Level II as well. When I went for the follow-up w/the specialist a few days later he told me that it's very common w/little boys and that based on my son's #s it looked like everything should resolve itself before he's born. My OB's max size for "normal" kidneys is in the 4-5mm range & both of my kidneys measured at 6mm - just above the normal range, so they told me not to worry (since the # wasn't higher). I have my 36w sono in 5 weeks, so I'm hoping that everything looks good then - the doc told me that it should. It's easier said than done, but try not to worry too much...after googling it to death, I found that it really is common & it's very treatable even if it doesn't resolve itself; so while it's not the best news, it's also definitely not the worst - the odds are that your baby will be 100% fine