Prominent Kidneys in Fetus

I did a google search for "enlarged fetal kidneys" and found more helpful results, including what I copied below. Good luck to you both!!

"Enlarged kidneys are commonly detected on sonograms before birth. The majority of time, nothing serious is wrong. In a small number of children, there could be an obstruction or problem that will require treatment. The most important thing at this time is whether the amount of amniotic fluid around the baby is normal.

Enlarged kidneys are quite common and are not due to anything mothers have done during pregnancy. Evaluation needs to be done after the child is born, and in most cases the kidney function is fine, and does not require treatment.

However, when there is a problem, the most common causes are:

A cystic kidney may be a sign that that kidney did not develop properly and is usually an isolated problem, meaning typically no other problems may exist.

Also, there may be a problem with the chromosomes, most kids with these findings are otherwise normal."
from http://en.allexperts.com/q/ObGyn-Pregnancy-issues-1007/En...

While I have never heard this term she should definately makes sure she asks a lot of questions and get ultrasounds done. My son was bornwith one kidney and if it had not been for something being wrong with thatone (which they saw in an ultrasound when I was five months pregnant) it is hard to tell how long we might not have known he only had one kidney. He was born July 9, 2007 and had to have surgery December 12, 2007 and he is a happy-go-lucky - into everything 20 month old. Please tell her to just ask, ask questions. I know a good kidneyspecialist as St. Vincent in Indianapolis. He is a very carding and wonderful doctor. Good luck to both of you.

Shaun,
Tell your sister to ask a lot of question, main reason being Dr's don't just volunteer information, so if you want to know what is going on you have to ask them. Tell her to make up a list of questions that she has an take them with her when she goes to the Dr. Wishing your
sister the best.

K.

If it is the same as "dilated" kidneys, this is very common and goes away the large amount of time before birth. They will typically do a late pre-natal ultrasound to see if it has corrected itself. If not, they will do an ultrasound of the baby after birth and monitor kidney function through a painless test. For my son, the problem didn't correct itself for a year, but posed no problems outside of a couple is extra doctor appointments and a round of antibiotics immediately after birth.. Again, check with the doctor (kidneys are important!) but hopefully it is no big deal.

I searched the first word for you "Prominent"....usually that's all it takes when you search.
This is what it comes up with:
prom·i·nent (prm-nnt)
adj.
1. Projecting outward or upward from a line or surface; protuberant.
2. Immediately noticeable; conspicuous. See Synonyms at noticeable.
3. Widely known; eminent
So I would be guessing it means the kidney is actually enlarged and more noticeable than most.
I also would ask the doctor if there is any concern. Because it isn't cool to have a stressed out mommy before the end of the pregnancy, because it can actually cause more complications. So yes, it would be a good idea to requestion the doctor and ask him to speak kind of slow. My doctor is a fast talker and I never understood some of the things he had to say either. Like the fact that I had gestatiounal diabetes toward the end of my pregnancy...and if it was a real concern or not at the end. I know diabetes is a major concern..But the fact on how it would and could damage the baby...they never clarify themselves. So make sure that he/she explains them better. Good Luck!

Hi,
I can't give you any specific medical advice, but I do want to let you know that you should take what they say in ultrasounds with a grain of salt...sometimes I wonder if they are more harmful than beneficial...I had a really bad experience this pregnancy with my ultrasound in which the doctor and technician BOTH told me that my baby had a condition in which the organs were on the wrong side of the body. They also told me that I had low lying placenta. So I was sent to a specialist. The specialist told me that they were wrong about both things. So not only did I go through unnecessary worry and freaking out along with time for researching, I lost my faith in the process and wondered how they could make such a big mistake. Because they wanted a third ultrasound then to confirm these things as I was further along, insurance wouldn't cover so many. After I had some freaking out I talked to a few other mothers who had been told terrible things about their fetus from ultrasounds that ended up being untrue. Although I'm sure most know what they are talking about and are experienced, there are a lot of mistakes made. Good luck however and they'll be in my thoughts and prayers.

I have never heard of this but I am thinking that maybe you talk her into calling the dr. and go with her to talk to the dr. in person so that is she has any questions she has you there as another pair of ears. Just from what you have said it sounds like the would be the best option for her.