Can a baby with one kidney lead a normal life?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am 28 weeks pregnant. All my fetal scans taken so far show that my baby has only one kidney, which is the left one, and it is working normally. I have attached the document. I doubt whether there is a left kidney somewhere down; I'm not sure, but if it is there, it would be very small.

But for now, let us say the baby has one normal kidney. After delivery, what is the process of ultrasound and blood tests? Will it be done immediately or after a couple of days? And throughout the pregnancy, if all scan result shows normal kidneys, then what is the chance of a problem with the kidneys in the future?

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Many children with a single kidney will have a normal life without further complications.

But still, there is some risk of the development of some problems later in life :

1. Development of high blood pressure.

2. Urinary tract infections.

3. Decreased kidney function.

The development of these problems is variable.

This entails:

1. The baby should go for a scan after birth.

2. Need to follow up with a pediatric nephrologist.

3. Regular checking of blood pressure and urine for infection and protein loss must be done.

4. The child should protect his kidneys and reduce the risk of complications later in life by eating a healthy diet, doing plenty of exercise, and not smoking.

I hope this helps.

Please revert in case of further queries.

Thank you.

Answer 2

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern.

The bigger kidney is because it tries to compensate for the absence of the other one. Pelvic dilatation most likely is of no significance. Most of the abnormalities detected in the prenatal ultrasound will not harm the baby. Still, you need to do an ultrasound and a kidney assessment for the baby after delivery.

I hope this helps.

Please revert in case of further queries.

Thank you.