My DS was diagnosed at the 20 week US with a 'congenitally absent left kidney'. They also spoke of the second kidney possibly being present somewhere in the pelvis, but it is in fact absent. My DS was also diagnosed with a whole lot of issues with the kidney which is present. Were you told whether the existing kidney appears normal? We were pretty sure the left kidney was absent in my DS as there was no evidence of the left renal vascular system. Were they able to find any veins or arteries which might be supplying blood to a left kidney in your DD?

As you stated, a person can live a healthy life with only one kidney. In fact, you only need 20% function of a single kidney to be 'well'. You are actually better off being born with a single kidney, as opposed to losing one, as that kidney will grow larger to compensate for the absent one. It is called a - wait for it - Superkidney! (I'm serious!!) My DS's kidney is approximately twice the size of a single kidney in a kid who has two; his kidney is therefore able to filter waste and produce urine at the same rate as two little kidney's. The incidence of a genetically absent kidney in a live birth is somewhere between 1:500 and 1:2000. Depends what you read...

So, the risk is that if that single kidney is damaged, there isn't a second one to back it up and do the job. My DS is more prone to UTI's as his single kidney suffers from hydronephrosis, which is pooling of urine in the renal pelvis. He also has a few other problems which make him more prone to UTI's. He started on prophylactic antibiotics after his birth (because of the hydronephrosis NOT because he only had one kidney) but still suffered several UTI's which travelled to the kidney. He required hospitalisation for the UTI's and was treated with IV antibiotics. Again, he was at risk of UTI's because of the problems with the kidney, not because he only had one. I am not aware of a single kidney which is functionally and structurally normal being more prone to infection. Anyway, scrub up on the symptoms of a UTI in infants so that you are comfortable that if your DD does develop an infection you will catch it early! We had DS circumcised at 12 months at the recommendation of his urologist. He stopped taking AB's at 18 months and hasn't had an infection since. Not a consideration if you know you are having a girl!

Contact sports will be an issue in future, again because if the kidney is damaged it doesn't have a mate to back it up. We will encourage DS towards non-contact sports. Normal play and rough-housing is not a problem; how many kids do you know who have damaged a kidney mucking around with friends? Then consider how many AFL players have lost a kidney - there are quite a few of them! My DS, of course, is naturally talented with a football and loves to kick it around...d'oh! Anyway, golf, tennis, track, ballet... there are plenty of options.

My DS did not go to SCN after delivery, although there was a paed on hand to check him immediately instead of waiting for day 2. Again, this was because of the issues with the existing kidney, not because one was absent. I don't believe your DD will go to special care just because she has one kidney, but you should certainly ask your care provider to put your mind at rest. We went home on day 5 as per normal. We see a private urologist, initially every 3 months, then every 6 and now every 12. DS is now 5 years old. Before each visit I take DS to the RCH in Melbourne for a renal US to check the hydronephrosis and renal development. We were also having a test to check function (called a MAG3) but it is quite invasive (strapped to a table for 40 minutes and given an IV isotope and then diuretic) so I have elected in the last couple of years to only have the MAG3 if the US shows something of concern. My DS's kidney is growing well and functioning adequately.

As for alcohol, I actually asked the urologist that... 'Will he be able to go to the pub with his mates and drink beer??' and his answer was a resounding 'yes'. As long as the kidney continues to function well, it is perfectly capable of filtering alcohol. Not to advocate that anyone should drink to excess, of course!

My DS is like any other kid; he's happy, active and somewhat cheeky! Physically you would never guess that there is anything 'wrong' with him. As his lovely urologist told me, 'You know, this kidney... it's just a different kind of animal. But it's a friendly animal'.

Anyway, I've waffled on and could keep going! I'm something of an 'Absent Kidney Expert' (if I may say so myself!) and I'm happy to answer any questions you might have.

Congratulations on your pregnancy!