20 weeks scan, baby has one kidney larger/brighter than the other one!

[zoemelb]

Just had a 20 weeks scan today, and the sonographer shows us one of the baby kidney is brighter and larger than the other one. She explained that it can be common for baby boy. She sent us to the specialist team for second scan and opinion. I'm waiting for the scan next week. Hopefully as the sonographer said he will have a better wee and everything will look fine then.

I have been googling and the symtoms seems to be "Dilated Renal Pelvis" or "hydronephrosis" where one kidney of the baby doesn't empty properly.

Does anyone have experienced with this? and good or bad outcome?

Thanks

P/S: other than this, everything else is fine with the baby, and he has been kicking me plenty the last couple days, and today especially.

Hiya. I had a similar with my first born. I went for a growth scan which showed one of her kidneys was enlarged.

When she was born she was put on antibiotics, however at 8 weeks old got a uti which led to being in hospital for a week on drip antibiotics.

Because of this and what they called dilatations she was monitored and tested for about a year.

So we had scans on the kidneys, they would scan while was was weeing and also had to have a special dye put in and then a cat scan.

The dilatations reduced so after a year she was discharged.

The tests etc were alot harder for me as baby was crying etc but she doesn't remember any of that, so if you do have tests hold on to that thought.

We were told that most children grow out of it as their kidneys develop etc but I will say the doctors and pediatricians were amazing and happy to explain things several times (tired brain didn't take it all in)

Honestly try not to worry. Your baby still has loads of growing to do. Good luck

@Oldfail thanks for the lovely message, and sharing your experience.
It's really nice to know your experience, it helps to reassure me a lot, tbh I kept on imaging the worst that maybe the other kidney was larger/brighter because the other kidney didn't grow properly . and it's dangerous with 2 kidneys not functioning well.
Just hope the kidney isn't something major, and can be fixed soon after birth. We will have to wait for the scan next week, and will ask for exact size of the kidney for each and the condition. Fingers crossed.

Thanks for sharing though, we can mentally be ready to watch out for his condition in the 1st year. I imagine it must be hard to worry and to find out if the baby has UTI or not, and every time he gets uncomfortable I would be worried for sure. And the scanning/ monitor as well, it must be difficult to hold the baby still for the scan when being so young (personally I don't like being scan even during pregnant either, quite hurt for me when they scan against the belly, always a bit of pain the day after). I'm glad that your daughter is ok now though, it must be such a relief!

I'm such a worrier, and just wish he's being healthy, and no pain/discomfort.

you need to go and be checked right now. Please don't risk leaving it until it is too late. They would rather see you 20 times and it be nothing than miss the one time it is something

sorry - wrong thread!

up for more response

Hi, I'm 37 weeks pregnant so don't have the definitive outcome but still remember coming out of the 20-week scan with a similar diagnosis and feeling really worried, so understand how you must feel!

In the four subsequent scans I had the baby's been diagnosed with pelvic kidney (extrarenal pelvis) / hydronephrosis, and the plan for now is for postnatal ultrasound (on baby) and antibiotics. (no impact on the birth plan itself, and the paedriatric urology consultant i saw sounded rather unconcerned)

If baby is kicking that's quite reassuring - they did say only one kidney needs to work properly :)

Good luck but don't worry too much at this point!

@paperplant thank you.

I have a second scan booked in tomorrow so will know more about the condition. Hopefully it isn't something major.

Update: I had a second scan done, doctor now identified it as dyplastic kidney, not hyronephrosis. Although only mentioning about the kidney's size very large, not the cysts either during or after the scan, were the cause of the diagnose. We will have 3rd scan to rule out Down Syndrome risks, but dr insisted it's unlikely the left kidney will be functioning after birth. We still don't know yet, but for now I'm hoping the good kidney (right one) is working 100%.

We had something similar with our baby but it had resolved itself by 35 weeks. Try not to worry. Easier said than done, I know.

@Alderaan thanks. Is your baby is going well? I'm now just worry about the other kidney, but staying positive to avoid stress. When you said "resolved itself" means the bad kidney adsorbed itself to the baby's body at 35 weeks, or something else?

The kidneys (it affected both) are now both of normal size. It isn't uncommon, apparently.

I'm 38 weeks now. The kidneys are still fine but there's now an unrelated problem with the bowel.

@Alderaan: I really hope the bowel problem will go away as well for your LO. It's great that both kidneys are back to normal size, it must be wonderful news. I'm still waiting for further scan on Monday, tbh I'm not 100% happy with the 2nd scan, for why he thinks it's dyplastic (non functioning) and not dialated kidney (blockage swollen), but only time will tell. And really hope it is the only problem found. Let me know how you go, all the best!