Enlarged renal pelvis

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Just had a growth scan at 35 weeks and they notice an enlarged renal pelvis. Now I'm in a complete panic. The consultant was reassuring and said it might just be that the baby was ready for a wee, or alternatively it might just be something that will rectify itself.

I've got another scan at 39 weeks, and if still the same then they'll induce me. Baby will be given antibiotics from birth and a scan a number of weeks later to check it out.

Does anyone have any experience of this?

Hi there,

My baby also has this - well they called in Renal Pelvis Dilation but it sounds like exactly the same thing. The midwife etc. wasn't worried about it though - apparently it is really common and 1 in a hundred babies have it. I'm not worrying about it at all my opinion is that if there is something wrong then they have caught it early to do something about it. My baby is also having antibiotics and a scan and I'm hoping that it just goes away on its own.

Hi, yes been there too. Its frightening but don't worry its very common
I had loads of probs with the thought of giving AB's to my new born but as it is he's absolutely fine and its such a small dose, we've been told he can come off them after his next scan at 7m old if nothing has changed... We did have 2 scans in his first month of life and he needs twice yearly follow ups for a while but everything seems ok and he's such a well little boy you wouldn't think there was anything wrong. Its sooo horrible being told anything is wrong on a scan esp. with all your pg hormones going round-i sobbed for ages but honestly we were told that the chances of this being life threatening were next to nothing

Oh and also it has a really high chance of it going away on its own..

Also, get a second opinion on the induction I was told it wasn't necessary and went for nearly 42w (was induced in end but cos of length of time overdue-not to do with kidneys)

Thanks for both your replies.
Silly question - what way do they administer the antibiotics to the newborn?

Its usually trimethoprim and its 1ml once a day dropped in their mouth with a little syringe. Quite easy but if you get a strong aniseed tasting one and your lo doesn't like it then ask for a different one as they make a plain, slightly sweet, version (we only found this out when i smashed the 1st bottle by accident and were given a different brand-we still think ds will either love or hate aniseed being that it was his first real taste of something apart from my milk LOL)

Thanks lizzer that's really helpful, I'll know what to expect now. Am still hoping the next scan is normal but like to be prepared!

I suppose one of the disadvantages of these advanced scans is that we know now of all kinds of things we wouldn't have before. I've always had a tendency to get UTI's myself, and so now I'm worrying that I've passed this one (motherhood guilt starting before it's even born!)

Hope your LO is ok

If it lightens your mood at all, I was skimming through the Active Conversations and read this as Enlarged Penis Revival I think I need a break from the computer screen.

Good luck with the birth, hope it all goes smoothly

lol, no wonder it grabbed your attention!

I just had a scan at 28 1/2 weeks and the left kidney has the enlarged renal pelvis. My doctor didn't seem too concerned but something to discuss & explore further with the pediatrician once the baby is born. I was reading on the web though that it can be a soft mark for Down's? Anyone else read that or discuss that w/ your doctor?

Hi dlitedmom - I did read that too about it being a soft marker for downs and I panicked hugely. Then I calmed down a bit in time, as my nuchal result was good as was the blood test at 16 weeks. I'm going for a scan at 39 weeks to see if it's still enlarged (consultant said it might have been temporary if the baby needed a wee at the time)

I've spoken to a number of people now and apparently it's very common to be enlarged on the scan, and none of the babies I know of had any problems post birth