Sorry about that.

Anyway, just over a year ago we discovered that my husband (aged 29) had severe hydronephrosis in one kidney. He'd been having some side pain for a couple of months, dr's thought it was likely to be gall bladder. 2 blood tests, one US, a CT, and a pyelogram later - severe hydronephrosis diagnosed due to a narrowed UPJ. His kidney was more than twice normal size. He went to see a specialist in Melbourne who booked him in for surgery on the next available surgery date, and he had a robotic assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty (basically they do keyhole surgery with a robot and correct the obstruction etc). He was out of hospital in under 3 days, back at work the next week, which is very speedy indeed.

The consensus is that he's had the problem since birth, but it never caused him any symptoms for 29 years or so. This was quite a surprise to the surgeon, as most operations are on younger people. So it's not always something that is fatal to babies, or always causes immediate and major problems - however for some babies it can cause pain and difficulties early on.

They're right - there's nothing they can do until baby is born, but it wuold be worth another US with a paediatrician's opinion on it so they could plan what happens next after the birth. I'd find a good paediatrician or good renal specialist who deals with this problem frequently and show them the DVD of the US and discuss what happens next. I've had a quick look on the net, and there's a urologist in Townsville so that might be your first point of call, or a paediatrician (you would need a referral from a Gp/Dr).

It's probably not anything that would require an induction, special care, or to deliver in a more major hospital really - but it would be good to pre-organise some tests for the baby after it is born, so they don't feel fobbed off and the problem is well monitored.

I wish them all the best, hopefully all will turn out well for them and baby.