Heart and Slight Kidney Issues

[Hannahmay191]

Hey everyone,

I am here as I need a bit of reassurance. I just feel like the past two weeks have taken all the joy out of being pregnant.

So at my 20 week scan the sonographer sent me on my way and said that by baby boy has a bit of fluid in his kidneys but it's not a big worry it's just a case that he might need a few more scans to check on them. As I have a 2 valve cord she said I may need growth scans anyway. She took ages looking at his heart. He's a wriggler so it can be difficult to see. In the end she sent me off and just told me to mention the findings to the midwife at my next appointment but that she was not worried.

Well she had me a bit worried so I booked a private scan with window to the womb. She said the kidney issue is fairly normal for boys but that the fluid levels are borderline and this should have been referred as he may need more scans and a his kidneys looked at when born. But she also said the right side of his heart looks enlarged but she's not 100 per cent sure if it's just the way he's lying. She sent the video to their lead sonographer and she thinks something may be wrong but if it is they seem to think it's a small abnormality. She went as far as to say I should formally complain about the first sonographer. My husband thinks she is worrying us unduly as the 20 week scan sonographer looked at his heart for a long time before saying she was happy.

I feel like all the joy has been taken away from pregnancy to be honest and I just want it over with now. And I cant help but worry about the finding will be with the fetal cardiologist.

Has anyone any similar experiences? How did you get on?

My 20 week scan was bad news and the sonographer wasn't happy with the heart views. I was transferred to a consultant to confirm the defect. I think you will be absolutely fine if your sonographer said she's happy, they wouldn't risk it. Enjoy the rest of your pregnancy and keep calm x

I'm sorry to hear you had bad news at your scan. Do you mind if I ask was it a major abnormality? I'm just finding it very hard putting trust in anyone anymore with all the conflicting information.

Sorry- by anyone I mean the sonographers I'm dealing with. Still a bit all over the place from earlier.

I'm sure the 20wk sonograher wouldn't be taking any chances and if she was concerned you would have been referred. It wouldn't be in her interests to ignore something like that. You say yourself he's a wriggler so be reassured she took her to to have a good look.
My DS had an issue before birth with one of kidneys not draining fully. No issues at all when born. Hospital checked he was urinating and that was that as far as I remember.
I'd not place too much importance on what the 'Window to the Womb' sonographer said tbh.
I'd rather place my trust in the hospital.

@Hannahmay191 my baby had half a heart and he didn't survive. Sonographers have to be so sure before they say everything is ok. I'm pretty sure your fine- they would have brought you back in for a rescan if she was still worried.
X

Thank you Spied. I hope so.

I'm so sorry to hear that AlviesMam ❤️

Fetal hearts can be very difficult to assess and abnormalities are not always detected on ultrasound even with a competent and experienced sonographer. The first sonographer must have been happy with the views she obtained though or she would have referred you off further assessment. What have window to the womb done with their results? If they are concerned that something is not normal and that this may not have been detected at your last scan did they refer you on for a consultant opinion? They should have clear referral pathways if they are offering this kind of scan

They are referring me to fetal medicine and fetal cardiology so I have to wait for appointments. She said the kidney fluid is borderline for 21 weeks so should have been referred as well as the heart. Basically the right side of the heart looks slightly enlarged so she said it is a minor abnormality but is still an abnormality and needs assessed. But then said she's not a professional cardiologist so can't tell us much more. When we asked is it a murmur she said it's not a murmur and seemed to think it's not quite as serious even as that.
Trying to stay positive but it's hard.

That’s good. Hopefully it is just the angle she’s taken the image at but she’s done the right thing, definitely better to err on the side of caution if she’s unsure and hopefully it’ll turn out to be nothing.

Did the NHS sonographer arrange for kidneys to be checked at a later scan? Our guidelines are that a ‘borderline’ renal pelvis dilatation would be rechecked at 32-34 weeks and if it had worsened then refer on to consultant so sounds like she may have already done this anyway?

Thank you so much for the advice MadamJosephine. The sonographer put it on my notes and asked me to discuss with the midwife at my next appointment and told me that they may well want another scan a bit later. She did clearly state it on the notes too that there was renal pelvis dilation.

Glad I could be of help, good luck with your next scan. Hopefully it’ll turn out to be nothing in the end

Just to update on this thread, I saw a lovely consultant today who reassured me so very much. The appointment was so much more positive than I dared hope.
So she isn't concerned about the kidneys. They are already aware of that and I am booked in to to see her again at 36 weeks. If they haven't improved he just needs a scan and an antibiotic when born. I did discuss my worries with down syndrome but she said I am fit and healthy and my age does not put me at high risk so she explained fully how markers work and that they are not the be and end all
For the heart, she said that given the type of issue there is every chance the heart just needs to grow a little bit more but because the WTTW sonographer has me worried I am waiting on a referral just to check but even if there is an issue they are not overly worried that it's something big.
Honestly I am just happy to be able to relax a bit now as those were a horrible few days and I was so stressed out. Thank you so much for all your kind comments and reassurance.