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Hi friends -
I am at six months with my second baby and had the sex determining ultrasound about a month ago. They found that the kidneys were dilated, I guess indicating cysts. They ordered another ultrasound for my next appointment, which was today. Unfortunately, both were still dilated, while one had possibly shrunk a bit. The other was called "persistent." So, now they have ordered a level two ultrasound.
I have been googling all night trying to find out more. All I can find are scary diseases associated with renal cysts. I was hoping to find some information regarding renal cysts found in prenatal ultrasounds which turned out to be nothing big. Has anyone had an experience with this. Can anyone set my mind at ease? I am so heart broken to imagine my daughter may be born with kidney failure.
Thanks, Chelle |
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I'm sorry that I don't know anything specific about this, but I wanted to say that while prenatal testing and ultrasounds can be great, sometimes I have to wonder if they create more stress than they are worth. My ultrasounds for DS#2 showed first a strange strand through the uterus (turned out to be no big deal, but doing Googles on it led me to think that he was going to be born without limbs), and then when I had an ultrasound closer to my due date he was labelled as growth-restricted and I was induced a month early, to have him at a healthy weight--for a preemie with all the extra concerns that brought.
All that to say, I absolutely feel your anxiety over this and know the hunching over the computer in the wee hours because you can't sleep. I wish I could promise you that it will be okay but can at least extend a great big cyber-hug. |
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I did a little searching of my own (little slow at work today) and I found this link that might be helpful...
<A href="http://www.cornellurology.com/pediatrics/prenatal.shtml">http://www.cornellurology.com/pediatrics/prenatal.shtml</A>
It says that kidney dilation is the most common abnormality seen in prenatal US and that 50% are born perfectly healthy. Apparently fetal kidneys are very elastic so they sometimes appear dilated but there's nothing wrong. A friend of mine had the same thing happen to her and her son was born totally fine. Hope that helps a little. |
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Another story to add to that: friends of ours were told at the ultrasound that there was an anomaly with their baby's heart, and that it could indicate a specific heart disease. If it was that disease, their baby wouldn't live, but then again it could be nothing at all.
Way to make parents panic! In this case, their baby was born fine and all the worries were for nothing. So although I know that nothing will truly reassure you through this ordeal, try to remember that ultrasounds are not perfect tools and that a lot of what is seen turns out to be nothing at all.
Good luck! |
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BIG HUGS!
Arghhh.....ultrasounds are great until yours isn't normal. I agree with the PP that these are great medical "tools", but it's not perfect and should be used as part of a total fetal monitoring package. We have a genetic condition in my family that can affect the kidneys and had multiple ultrasounds with both my boys(males have a higher percentage chance of being affected) and we not only looked at the kidneys closely, but actually intentionally made several longer ultrasound sessions so we could actually see them both pee. If they are passing urine, then kidneys are functional. Yippie......
So maybe you could ask about that next time. Because basically what can you do about anything right now, cysts or no cysts or dialation for that matter? All you need to know at this point is if baby can/will be born at term healthy enough to live and then deal with any issues baby might have. They can do many things now they couldn't do years ago. Even if(IF) baby has a kidney issue, they can't do much inside the womb but they can do many things to help baby after birth.
You can search for rash with high temp and get results off the web that says you have the plague or cancer! But most of the time, it's just a rash.....
Keep the faith sister! |
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Thank you all for your posts. I feel better already. I had forgotten a really good point... There was an abundance of amniotic fluid. So, while we didn't wait to watch her pee, the tech said it indicated that her kidneys were functioning. I sure wish I could get all of this resolved before too long. I had wanted to try giving birth at a birthing center instead of the hospital. I definitely wouldn't want to do that if there was a question about her kidneys. what is it about the pregnant mind that makes it so impossible to be reasonable about these things? Actually, I sure it has to do with hormones... ha. Thanks again, ladies. You provided just the grounding I needed. I'll be in touch.
Chelle |
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Hello...
I just wanted to respond and let you know that when I was pregnant with my twins, they found that my sons one kidney was dilated. They kept saying 'oh, most of the time its nothing' but the way they stayed on top of it really scared me, I thought for sure something horrible was going to be found.
About 2 months after he was born, they had me take him in for an ultrasound, and then he had a test done called a VGUC. In the end, they found that it was absolutely nothing, just a kidney that was larger than normal.
After all this, I came to find that two of my cousins have children that had the same thing, and that it is actually quite common.
-Laura |
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| Thanks so much for that! We have another appointment scheduled for this coming Thursday where they will do a level 2 ultrasound with a specialist. They also said we would have an appointment with a genetic counselor, which scared the poo out of us. Just the idea... But, I do feel better just hearing from you all. I sure appreciate it! I will keep you posted. Thanks - Chelle |
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A genetic counselor is a good idea. It will make you think about your family history of "issues" or "oddities" that might be dismissed otherwise. It can not only help you now, but it the future, your children when they have children. Think of it that way. Your children will have more knowledge than you did, and knowledge is certainly power. It's not knowing that is scary!
The genetic counselor can tell you the odds of problems, whether they are caused by a dominant gene or a recessive gene, and the possible outcome if issues arise. It was empowering for us as a family actually. It felt like it wasn't such an unknown anymore. And maybe we actually had some semblance of being "in charge" again.
I hope that is what it is for you too.
We have two happy healthy spoiled little boys now, one who is 8 and one who is 1! And in the end, that's all that matters, right?
Best Wishes! We're thinking of you, friend! |
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Thinking of you mama. Hope no news is good news.
-Jamie |
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| Thanks so much! Yes - I apologize for not getting back to you. No news is some good news and some more of the same news. You were completely right about the genetic counselor. She was terrific. she also was willing to explain things on a medical and technical level, rather than simplify, like most doctors do. It is so frustrating to have them dumb it down, assuming you couldn't possibly grasp the concept. So, as a result of her lack of condescension, I have a much clearer understanding of what is really going on now. The perinatologist was also wonderful and explained things well. they had a concern for Down's Syndrome because they see dilation in the kidneys of DS babies. However, DS babies usually have bilateral dilation. Our baby definitely has unilateral. Her right side is at 7 cm and her left is at 4 cm. So, good news there. The big question is why they are dilated at all. We didn't have the following information when we went in last, but my husband's sister told us that she had had elongated ureters (the tubes connecting the bladder to the kidneys). They were also kinked, so she had reoccurring infections growing up and ended up in the hospital where they snipped them and straightened them out (at 8 years old). She is around 40, so they didn't have the technology to do ultrasounds and discover problems when she was prenatal. The doctor had mentioned that as one of the possibilities of cause. But, like I said, we had no idea that she had had those kind of problems until after the appointment. It really sounds like our baby inherited those ureters. We have another appointment on January 6th. Thanks so much for the support! |
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Good to hear from you! Funny how you find out things you never knew about your family history AFTER things like this happen. We knew about our family history of fatal Polycystic Kidney disease in males prior to our getting pregnant and saw a genetic counselor for our "odds of sucess" for a healthy child back in 1996. Now we have 2 healthy boys! But we didn't know my hubby has an inhertited genetic seizure disorder until baby #2 was born last year and had severe gran-maul seizures and would stop breathing.
Oh, we were so scared! We saw his pediatrician(who said that all baby's have "spasms", and a neurologist(finally when we got a seizure on the camcorder at 4 months old) BEFORE my hubby's mom said "Oh yeah, by the way...." Gee, thanks for the heads-up! Him and his sisters all had seizures but they didn't even know they did. Arghhhh....
Do you have any idea how many times I stood over my little baby boy screaming at him "breathe baby breathe!"
And she could have saved me that! We could have gotten him on meds right away. |
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Anyway, my point is that finding this stuff out can be scary but not talking about it doesn't help anybody. Somtimes things that people dismiss as a fluke is more than that. Now you know. Knowledge is power. Your baby girl(and other family members)will know what you didn't. I think that's wonderful!
I'm so happy for you to be having a beautiful baby girl soon! I hope the good news just keeps coming your way.
Cheers! |
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| Thanks so much! You words really have been and continue to be so helpful and supportive. I can't imagine through what you describe going through with your little boy. amazing! And what a blessing for him (both of your boys) to be healthy and whole now. It really puts tings into perspective. Thanks so much for sharing! |
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| Hi everyone - Wanted to give an update to the situation with my baby's kidneys. One isn't too bad - just right at the top of normal, but the other has been persitantly dilated with each ultrasound. The last doctor to look at them said he thought it was probably nothing big, but just kinked uriters. He also said it would just be something taht they would follow up with once the baby is born. I am so much more peaceful about it now! And I am so excited, because I am going to be able to have my home birth afterall. The baby is perfectly healthy and so am I, we are ready to go! thank you so much for all of your support! I have one more ultrsound before the due date and I will be sure to let you all know the final say! Thanks- Chelle |
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Great mama!
Been thinking about you and figured no news is good news!
Good luck with your home birth, I wanted to do it but hubby was afraid.
Seems so peaceful & comforting. The opposite of a hospital. |
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| Good to hear!! Good luck with the home birth (we are also going with a water birth at home this time around!!) |
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| Thanks Mamas! I am so excited about it all! In fact, we are donig a water birth as well. Given that I take a bath at least once a day, it makes sense I would want to birth there as well - it's my soothing place! I am going to be doing a hybrid of orgasmic birth and hypnobirth methods, which I am also looking forward to! Such a different experience than last time, being hooked up to needles and and a bed for 16 hours flat on my back! Off to bed - Take care! Chelle |
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Maybe that's why water birth never appealed to me--baths stopped being as much fun when I started having to choose whether my legs or torso would get to be underwater (who determined standard tub-length anyway??). :-)
Good luck! |
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| hello wonderful Mommas - wanted to give you all an update. I am 5 days past my due date now, just waiting for this sweet baby girl to emerge. All seems to be well in the kidney department - they are thinking kinked ureters. All we will need to do is do a follow-up ultrasound on her once she is born. The home birth is still on and I am eagerly awaiting the day! My pediatrician isn't even concerned with giving the baby antibiotics, like the like to do just in case an infection occurs. He just wants to wait and see once she is born, which I couldn't be happier with. I will let you all know once she finally gets here. Again, thanks for all of your support! Chelle |
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