Possible kidney problem shown in ultrasound--updated at bottom

[daisybaby]

I just wanted to get some opinions. I had a follow up ultrasound on Tuesday. My MW called me today to say the report showed "extrarenal pelvis bilateral" and that they wanted me to get a level II ultrasound done at the Children's Hospital. My MW wasn't familiar with it (other than she thought it meant extra kidneys) and had not come across it before. Anyone familiar with this and what the outcome could mean?

[BlueSuzyQ]

HUGS
I do not recognize that term, but I just had my second level 2 at the perinatalogist on Tuesday b/c I am high-risk (35, type 2 diabetic, and high blood pressure). My peri said, almost in passing, that there was a slight chance of a kidney problem in baby as well, due to extra fluid in the kidney...but only one kidney, and not to worry. He went so far as to say he sees no reason to follow up with him, just to watch the kidney on future ultrasounds!

My point is, sometimes scary sounding u/s findings turn out to be nothing serious at all, and the referral to a specialist is precautionary. It doesn't automatically mean something is bad...just that you have good medical care & everyone is being careful.

Try to stay calm while you wait for more informaion. Of course, that is all much easier said than done! I pannicked when I went to for the first level 2, and even after a REALLY good one, the follow up 7 weeks later freaked me out all over again.

Hang in there! My thoughts & prayers are with you!

-Suzanne
& Luke Timothy due 10/26

[Kimmomy2dom]

I don't have any experiences with it either, sorry. I do love my ultrasounds, but I have to remind myself that sometimes they freak us out uneccesarily. I do think they have their place for helping diagnose things, don't get me wrong! I do, however, think that sometimes we have to sit back and watch if something comes up in the u/s. It isn't always bad and I don't want you to worry when you don't have to - that can only make things worse. So try to relax and wait until your level II and see what happens! They should hopefully be able to tell you far more than me! Good luck!

[rebeccah5]

I'm not sure about the condition to which the doctor is referring, but I will say that ultrasound is pretty unreliable about some things... Hopefully this will be nothing. Based on an ultrasound, my cousin was told that her unborn daughter more than likely had several severe defects, but she decided to continue the pregnancy and accept whatever outcome. It's a good thing she did, because her daughter was born whole and healthy with no defects whatsoever. But the doctor actually asked her after the ultrasound if she wanted to "terminate the pregnancy," so he must have felt fairly certain about what he'd seen. So I guess my point is, the same as PP, sometimes scary findings turn out to be nothing serious at all. They just want to be extra careful.

and my thoughts are with you, too!

[OnlyaMommy]

Extra Renal Bilaterial means.........................both kidneys are holding more urine than should be. Medical term is callen hydronephoris, sp?

I was diagonised with on an ultrasound as well. They really can not tell on an ultasound anyway. MIne was showing as a really bad case and after London was born he was put on two months worth of antibotics untill he could get an appoinment with the urinlogist. HE is completely fine, most of the time it shows up in boys over girls and even if it is a true case, most kids outgrow it.

Look up hrdonephoris online. Webmd is a good source also. I hope this helps, I know when I was pregant, I was terrified as well, but just know that it does not mean that your kiddo has (extra kidneys!)

[OnlyaMommy]

Originally Posted by BlueSuzyQ HUGS I do not recognize that term, but I just had my second level 2 at the perinatalogist on Tuesday b/c I am high-risk (35, type 2 diabetic, and high blood pressure). My peri said, almost in passing, that there was a slight chance of a kidney problem in baby as well, due to extra fluid in the kidney...but only one kidney, and not to worry. He went so far as to say he sees no reason to follow up with him, just to watch the kidney on future ultrasounds! My point is, sometimes scary sounding u/s findings turn out to be nothing serious at all, and the referral to a specialist is precautionary. It doesn't automatically mean something is bad...just that you have good medical care & everyone is being careful. Try to stay calm while you wait for more informaion. Of course, that is all much easier said than done! I pannicked when I went to for the first level 2, and even after a REALLY good one, the follow up 7 weeks later freaked me out all over again. Hang in there! My thoughts & prayers are with you! -Suzanne & Luke Timothy due 10/26

This is the same thing........................only one side is affected.

[beenwaitingalongtime]

My U/S doctor saw the same thing in Ramie (I only heard about it because I was listening really hard to what he was telling the tech. to write down.) He had said he was 3mm of fluid on the kidneys and they they don't worry till 4...and even then it's more of a 'wait and see' thing.

I went back at 34w for another U/S because of this and the fluid had decreased some. The doctor offered another U/S for a few weeks later, which I declined. My OB said this almost always resolves itself--which we saw w/ that 2nd U/S and that I could just have DD U/S in the hospital after she was born. I chose that.

After she was born, she showed no signs of any issues and both my OB and ped saw no point in U/S DD, so...looks like a bunch of stress over nothing. DD is in perfect health!

[BlueSuzyQ]

Originally Posted by OnlyaMommy This is the same thing........................only one side is affected.

Thank you SO SO SO much!
My doc said he was not at all concerned, as the affected kidney was only marginally larger than expected. In fact, he has said "kidneys look good" several times before actually measuring them! After measuring,he said that only the right kidney was slightly larger than expected, and that chances were good that either this would resolve itself or atleast not get worse.

HTH OP, too!!

[daisybaby]

Okay, it turns out baby has mild Pyelectasis, which is basically extra fluid in the kidneys. The value they look for after 33 weeks is greater than 7 mm and baby's fluid levels were 6.8 and 8.4mm. This could fix itself before birth or within the first year. The reason they are concerned about it is because the condition could cause kidney reflux because of the extra urine. So, they will do an ultrasound on the baby a few days after he is born. If he still has the extra fluid then they will put him on antibiotics to help prevent kidney infections from the backed up urine. Basically, it sounds like he will just have to be carefully monitored til it goes away. If the condition gets worse, then they may have to do minor surgery to correct, but we are still far away from that (the fluid level would have to be above 20mm to consider that). The worst problem that could happen (which I doubt because I have no other markers) is this is a very soft marker for Down's Syndrome. I'm trying to remember if I took that screening. I know I declined a couple in the beginning, but I did do the triple screen. When is it they normally test you for Down's?
Anyway, thank you for your prayers and support! My main concern now is just the extra doctor's appointments having to either take a toddler with me or find childcare for her because dh will be deployed.

[Julesmom23girls]

The worst problem that could happen (which I doubt because I have no other markers) is this is a very soft marker for Down's Syndrome. I'm trying to remember if I took that screening. I know I declined a couple in the beginning, but I did do the triple screen. When is it they normally test you for Down's?

The triple screen is the test for Down's. My dr told me that neither the triple screen or ultrasound alone is a good indicator of genetic problems, but together they are pretty reliable. So if your triple screen came back fine and the fluid in the baby's kindey doesn't seem unreasonably high then I would say (MO) not to worry. If you are 33 wks now, you don't have that much longer. I don't know how much you trust your dr but if he doesn't seem too concerned then neither should you.

Relax mamma, your are getting close to the finish line and I am praying that your baby will be happy and healthy with no complications.