Baby with only 1 kidney

[Anonymous]

They could only find 1 kidney at my 20 week scan. Anyone have experience with this? If that’s the only issue, it seems like the baby can have a normal life but what is scaring me is the association with other defects in 40-50% of cases. Anyone TFMR because of this?

[Anonymous]

I don't have direct experience with this but know a certain amount about kidney issues due to a brother awaiting a transplant and a husband who went through comprehensive testing to donate. Roughly one in 1000 babies are born with one kidney, and that is usually discovered only incidentally later on. Two kidneys are not necessary, are an evolutionary biological redundancy. When there is one, it grows a bit to compensate and normally supports full renal functioning. I wouldn't jump to an association with defects without comprehensive further testing.

[Anonymous]

My grandpa has one kidney (they only discovered this later in life when they were imaging for something else). No other health issues or birth defects. He’s 89!

[Anonymous]

I was PP. I would do an amino if I was worried that there were other issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't have direct experience with this but know a certain amount about kidney issues due to a brother awaiting a transplant and a husband who went through comprehensive testing to donate. Roughly one in 1000 babies are born with one kidney, and that is usually discovered only incidentally later on. Two kidneys are not necessary, are an evolutionary biological redundancy. When there is one, it grows a bit to compensate and normally supports full renal functioning. I wouldn't jump to an association with defects without comprehensive further testing.

^^the only recommendation is to avoid contact sports that could inflict damage on the one kidney.

[Anonymous]

My cousin has lived long very healthy life with just one.

[Anonymous]

My friend’s daughter has this. No issues at all.

[Anonymous]

Just FYI it is extremely difficult to terminate after 20 weeks. PP in DC will do it through 19 weeks 6 days, e.g., so if it is something you are seriously considering, you would need to start planning immediately.

However, I would definitely not terminate for medical reason because of a basically benign condition merely because of the correlation with other issues. One kidney is not a particularly uncommon incidental finding in adults. They estimate that 1 in 750 people is born with only one kidney.

[Anonymous]

I was born with one kidney but didn’t know until I was 23 when I had a scan of my kidneys. I had the scan because I had high blood pressure and no other symptoms and they found a small stone. I got lithotripsy and all ok. I am now 43. Living normal life

[Anonymous]

TFMR seems wildly disproportionate in this case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:TFMR seems wildly disproportionate in this case.

I agree. Plenty of people live normal lives with one kidney.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TFMR seems wildly disproportionate in this case.

I agree. Plenty of people live normal lives with one kidney.

My god I would say so! My friends daughter has one kidney. She is perfect and has no issues at all! Just have to keep an annual appointment with nephrologist and that’s about it.

[Anonymous]

Cousin had a baby with this. Totally healthy toddler now w zero other issues. Iirc not allowed to play contact sports to protect the one kidney, but who cares.

[Anonymous]

I know an adult who has this and it was discovered only when they were an adult. They have led a full life as a healthy adult.

[Anonymous]

If you do want to pursue further testing and find out there are other development issues, know that what the PP said about TFMR is completely wrong - there are options for abortion in DC into the third trimester.