When I had my scan at 19 weeks the sonographer thought she could only see one kidney (right one) in my little bub. I had another scan the other day at 32 weeks and once again they had difficulty locating the left kidney and recommended bub to have a scan after he is born.
I was just wondering if anyone elses babies have had this? I am really worried about my little man even though I know we can survive on one kidney ok but there are risks.
My gf's little boy was born very premature and one of his kidneys was covered in cysts. Eventually that kidney just shut down. He is just fine. Can lead a perfectly normal life however, they were told no things like horse riding, football etc, basically anything where he can damage his remaining kidney.
My girlfriend has a four year old who was born with one kidney. She is doing great. My GF says that she just has to be careful with things like contact supports when she's older. She also makes sure she drinks heaps of water and never drinks soft drinks etc.
She also stressed a lot too. Completely normal. Even if he can survive fine on one kidney doesn't stop you from worrying. He's your little man.
Hi MummaBear ~ How are you? Hope you are ok. On the upside, I'm sure that if there was any cause for serious concern for your baby that you would have had many scans and check ups of your son's well-being by now. If there was something serious going on with the pregnancy, then it would be closely monitored, we are very lucky like this in Australia.
Having a scan at 19 weeks and another at 32 weeks suggests to me that that they are just keeping an eye out on your darling babe. I think there is a certain amount of guess work when it comes to u/s as the sono/drs can never really tell until the infant is born what the particular circumstances may be. (Just like finding out the sex is never 100%).
But having said that I'd ask as many questions as you can, from all health provides available to you. It concerns me that no-one has given you any clear indication as yet, if there is anything you need to be concerned about?? I know it would be so much easier if you could have your mind put at ease.
My son was diagnosed with gastroschisis at my 18 week scan and although my pregnancy was from then on high risk, I found that my antenatal visits at the local hospital didnt quite see it as serious as I did. Luckily I happened upon a very caring GP who looked after us amazingly to say the very least. It's never too late to find out anything concerning your baby, ask for a more detailed u/s even if you have to travel to have it done if you are worried. Also please feel free to pm or email me if you need to chat otherwise please keep us updated.
Just thought I'd throw in my two cents ... whilst I don't have a bub with one kidney, my DH's nan has lived with one kidney all her life, she's ridden horses, had accidents and lives life to the fullest and it's only just starting to give her hassles now ... at the ripe old age of 84!!! And it's not even her kidney that's giving her grief it's the duct leading away from it ...it's narrowed a little and needs a stent put in.
I'm sure your baby will be just as happy, healthy and adventurous as our beloved nan!
My sister found out at age 32 that her kidneys didnt separate in the womb so essentially she has only one kidney!! She still rides horses etc -she just get uti's a bit more frequently than most people so stays on top of that... Good luck and Im sure your bubby willl be fine. I know its so hard not to worry though
hi there
my nan was born with only one kidney and shes now in her late 70s early 80s. she's led a good life had 6 kids. as a result of having only 1 kidney she had diabetes but its never been a problem she hasn't needed dialysis or anything. im sure your LO will do fine and lead a long life.
My daughter was born with one kidney. I started a support group because I couldn't find one myself.
My hope is to compile facts and tips on how to prevent any problems she might have in the future. I try to get her to eat healthily, avoid nitrates, processed foods, and soda.
We didn't find out she had one kidney until two days after she was born when she had a renal sonogram. My pregnancy was watched closely, though, since she was a two vessel cord. (normal pregnancies have three vessels, two going out of the placenta and one going into it.)
Hi, My eldest daughter was born with only one kidney. They picked it up on an ultrasound and confirmed it when she was 6 weeks old (by ultrasound). We had check ups for a while but they stopped when she was 18months old as all was fine. She just has to get her blood pressure checked yearly and if we have any unexplained fever (i.e. not from a cold or bug) we need to check her urine for a UTI.
However she has only ever had 1 uti and is perfectly healthy. Apparently 1 in 800 babies are born minus a kidney. Her right kidney is a little larger than normal, maybe to compensate. It really hasn't been anything to worry about though. I did for about the first year though
It is really scary for me to know that my baby may only have one kidney. I never heard something like that before so I was totally shocked to learn the result of my 20th week scan.
As you said about your child, I feel more confident and strong now about my little inside.
Thank you very much for your reply.
God bless our babies
My DS was also born with a single kidney. It was picked up at the 20 week scan. Unfortunately, his single kidney has multiple abnormalities and we were initially told that the kidney would be non functioning and as such it was a 'non-viable pregnancy'. My DH and I chose to continue the pregnancy and I had scans every couple of weeks for the remainder. My DS turned 6 yesterday! He does have multiple abnormalities of the kidney which is present but it is functioning. He initially had scans and tests every 3 months, then every six and we have just gone to every 12 months. My DS did have multiple UTI's in the first 12 months of his life and several hospital admissions for IV antibiotic's. We had him circumcised at 12 months (it was done under a general anaesthetic at the same time as another renal procedure) and he has not had a UTI since.
My DS is happy and healthy and you would never pick him as a 'kidney kid'. We do have to be mindful of UTI's and he will also be strongly discouraged from playing contact sports (consider the fact that several AFL players have lost a kidney in the course of playing the game!) but otherwise he lives a very normal life. I am also very conscious of his diet as there is a history of diabetes in my DH's family and I don't want to predispose him to Type II with a poor diet. Diabetes often leads to kidney damage and my DS only has one kidney to start with! (Having one kidney does not cause diabetes or even make it more likely that a person might develop diabetes.)
A kidney in a person born with only one is usually larger than a single kidney in a person born with two - it's called a 'Super kidney'! Seriously, I'm not making that up... It is the bodies way of compensating for the fact that one kidney is absent.
My DS's issues are not because he only has a single kidney, they are because the kidney he does have has many abnormalities which affect both the structure and the function of the kidney. Having said that, he's a normal, active, happy little man! I'm sure your daughter will be well and I wish you the best of luck with the rest of your pregnancy. I'm happy to answer any more questions you have.
Sorry to veer off the point, but Nickle730 - if the kidney hadn't functioned at all from birth would that have made it non-viable, couldn't they have done a transplant? Is it very difficult to find a match or do mum and dad not normally match? Or was it that they thought the kidney would stop working in utero that they thought it was non-viable?
A little OT but thought I would pop in and add that my sister who is 41 wasn't diagnosed until she was around 30 with only having one kidney. She actually has 2 but they didn't separate suit is one that is a horseshoe shape. She is more prone to UTI's and infections and has been told to avoid things like horse riding (which she loves) and any other contact activity but otherwise her life hasn't been affected.
to you all who have kidlets with this condition. xoxo
Dear nickle730,
Thank you very much for your information.
I am sorry to hear that your DS also has this problem. However, I am happy to know that your DS is healthy and happy. Your story really gives me more hope and strength.
I am very sad to learn that my baby may have only ONE kidney. The doctor could not suspect a pelvic kidney either. It is nearly 99% the right one is missing. CRYING...
I still hope for a miracle and cannot accept the truth. My feelings are really ups and downs. I cannot work or do anything without thinking about that..
I will try to calm down and feel more positive.
All the best Nicke730.
I am sorry for my emotional message.
Hi Sas, the placenta does the function of the baby's kidneys in utero (filtering and removal of waste) and the kidney's themselves don't kick in until shortly before birth. Because of the multiple structural abnormalities in my DS's kidney, it didn't appear that it would be able to function. There is a minimum weight requirement of 5kgs for dialysis and I was told (by a urologist at the RCH in Melbourne) that kidney transplants are not performed on neonates as they are generally unsuccessful. Therefore, if a kidney becomes available which is suitable for a paediatric (an adult kidney would be too large for a tiny baby) it would be given to an older bub with a better chance of success and survival.
Babywonderful, I know how it feels to be told that there is something 'wrong' with your precious baby, but I will always remember DS's urologist telling me 'if you're going to be born without an organ, one of your kidney's is the best one to be absent' because you can live perfectly well with one. Although it's normal to worry, and I'm sure you will until you see your healthy baby girl, remember that it is quite common for a baby to be born with only one kidney - somewhere between 1 in every 500 to 2000 babies is born with an absent kidney. And the vast majority of those babies are healthy, happy and 'normal' in every other way.
Thank you very much for sharing with me. As mothers, we never want something wrong with our babies. We want to be the ones who can carry all the bad things for our children and let them live the best lives ever.. It is difficult to be not concerned any more about my baby inside but I will try my best. Once again thank you for everything. I believe your son will be great as he has a great mum like you. XXX
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Baby with one kidney??
Born with one kidney
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