Dilated Kidney tubes, baby on anti-biotics as soon as born?!

[chaoskay]

We found out at our 20 week scan that our baby had dilated tubes (not sure of the correct term), only by 1mm, and the consultant didn't seem too concerned. They said that it is very common in boys (we don't know what sex the baby is), and that it could simply be that the baby hadn't had a wee at the time of the scan, so the problem could sort itself out.

They explained at the time that the baby will have to have a scan when it is born, and that it will need another one a couple of weeks after to make sure that it is ok. But I found out yesterday that the baby will also have to immediately start a course of anti-biotics as a preventative measure, in case there is any infection.

Surely they should see if there is an infection and then treat it? I just kind of nodded and agreed with the mid-wife when I was talking to her, and it is only since I've felt a bit indignant about it really. In this day and age, I thought that they were trying to avoid prescribing anti-biotics all the time.

If the baby is scanned straight after birth, you'd think they'd know if it needed this treatment or not. It just seems a bit over the top. I just don't like the thought of pumping my little baby full of drugs unnecessarily.

I think I'll ask my midwife about this when I see her on Monday. I was just wondering if anyone else has any experience of this?

Hi, just to hope your little one is fine in the end, sometimes a later scan in pg can say everything is fine(esp with measurements only just outside of normal, so fingers crossed) but everywhere does things slightly differently.
Usually they wait until baby is at least a week (if not 4 weeks- again depends on local protocols) old before doing a scan to see how things are. I understand this is because baby can be a bit dehydrated at first, until feeding has settled down, which can make abnormalities very difficult to pick up on.
So, unless there is something very obvious (like baby not weeing enough/at all is all I can think of, but I'm sure they'd tell you if there was anything to watch for) all they can do is offer the antibiotics to avoid renal damage, which as others have said, really is worth avoiding, especially if your little one does end up having something not quite working right.
Fingers crossed everything works out ok for you.