Dilated kidney at 20 week scan

[Annabellemary]

Hi, I just had my 20 week scan yesterday and the sonographer informed me that my baby boy has a dilated kidney (1 of the 2). She said it is nothing to worry about and quite common anyway, especially with males but just wondered if anybody else had experience of this.

She said there was no reason and nothing I could do but that the consultant may scan again at a late date.

Yes, ds1 had it too - they scanned again before he was born, then again at intervals afterwards too. He was also given antibiotics for some time after he was born as well as we were told there was a little more risk of kidney infection. From memory I think he was about 12 months when he had the final scan. Try not to worry, I gather it is pretty common - in fact I'd forgotten about it until I read this!

Thank you Greenlawn, a reassuring response.

so sorry for the delay in replying to your message, but jsut wanted to add my reassurances -
I had exactly the same thing picked up at my 20 week scan, and again, everyone assured me that it was nothing to be panicked about. I was scanned a few more times, and by the last scan at 32 weeks, everything was measuring as normal. (Which apparently is not uncommon).
So after DD was born (9 weeks ago!!) the Dr decided not to do any further scans or antibiotics and she seems fine.

The peadiatrician also explained that you can get a slightly larger than normal measurement sometimes because the tube that leads from the kidney to the uretha might just be partially blocked and clears up as the organs and baby grow. Also, it might be something as simple as the foetus having some urine stored (ie ready to wee!) when the measurement was taken and so the kidney would show up as slightly enlarged.

Either way, it is something to keep an eye on at your next scan, but certainly nothing to panic over. Our lovely dr also said that this is only a trouble-causer if it is missed and can result in multiple kidney infections in LO post-natally - but as you know to keep an eye in this, that won't happen. So relax and enjoy your bump

My boy had this on his scan. He was scanned again at 30 wks where it had gone down and they checked him after he was born and gave him antibiotics. He had to be scanned twice after he was born and his kidneys were fine. Try not to worry, it is often nothing very serious and quite common in boys I have heard.

Just wanted to add my reassurances too - we had the same with our son....a dilated kidney was picked up during the 20 wk scan and I was scanned again at 30 wks...I was initially worried sick but the 30wk scan showed it as normal.

Again, we were told that this is quite a common problem and could have just been that the baby had some urine stored at the time of the scan.

Our son was given antibiotics as soon as he was born and scanned again later....his kidneys are fine and 'normal'.

Try not to worry and enjoy the rest of your pregnancy. Am sure things will be fine :-)

We've been told the same at our 20 week scan, with the reassurance that this is fairly common in baby boy's.

I was worried sick initially, as some of the websites stated that it is a soft marker for down's syndrome, but I felt a lot more relaxed talking to other people who were told the same thing and it all turned out well in the end. Normally antibiotics may be needed after the baby is born.

We have been booked in for a 34 week scan to see how the kidneys are looking. In our case its both left and right kidney that are dilated, so not sure if that is more of a worry or not.

Great, thank you for your responses. I phoned the lead nurse back and she said the same regarding might be a full bladder etc. causing this. I have another scan at 28 weeks to see how it is doing.

Thank you

Hi ,my 6 week old son also has a dialated kidney ,he's just had a 6 week scan but it has'nt gone ,we were told it could be one of 3 things ,a kink in his pipe ,backflow from the bladder or just the way he is ,he's had no infections and is a very contented baby.He'll be having another scan in 3 months so the docs are'nt at all worried ,it's very common in boys because they're a bit more complicated inside .So don't worry ,they even have a leaflet on it ,it's that common.

DS1 had exactly the same thing
Antibiotics from birth, we eventually took him off them ourselves.
Was scanned until he was about a year, and then it cleared up. He's never had a bladder/kindney infection.

Hello this is my first pregnancy and I had my 20 week scan yesterday and it showed one kidney was dialated. the doctor said it weas minimal, and common and would probably go away on its own, and if it doesnt its nothing serious. So im not too worried... But I do not know the sex of the baby, and do you think this means im having a boy

Not necessarily, my step sister had it too...

I am having a girl and one kidney is dilated. I have a repeat scan next month

ds1 had this, had extra scan at 34 wks and kidney still enlarged, he was antibiotics till 6 wks and then had scan, no problems at all (he's 2yr9mo now) - I think its a common thing for them to pick up - did they put a sticker on your notes? I was really reassured by that having a roll of stickers with 'pelvic renal dialation' on means they come across it all the time. I also got 6 hr discharge after birth so doc not worried about it either