Pyelonephritis in unborn baby??!
Question: This is when urine isn't fully emptied in bladder and causes a kidney infection. It was identified by ultrasound and the doctor says if it doesn't clear up on it's own, baby will need antibiotics when it's born. Have you ever heard of this?? I am 35 weeks pregnant. Any advice is much appreciated. Thanks
Answers: This is when urine isn't fully emptied in bladder and causes a kidney infection. It was identified by ultrasound and the doctor says if it doesn't clear up on it's own, baby will need antibiotics when it's born. Have you ever heard of this?? I am 35 weeks pregnant. Any advice is much appreciated. Thanks
A fetus can't really get pylonephritis in utero, because it's a sterile environment for the most part- and pylonephritis is a kidney infection caused by bacteria. What you are describing is called fetal hydronephrosis - which is caused by a blockage of the ureter leading from the kidney most usually, but some sort of blockage or restriction of the urine flow from the kidney to the bladder. It causes the kidney to enlarge. There usually isn't any treatment attempted until the baby is born, as long as the other kidney is not endangered or blocked as well. It should be monitored though, very closely, with ultrasounds usually on a weekly basis at least. You should also be followed by a gynecologist who specializes in higher risk pregnancies. Once the baby is born, the pediatrician will usually work with a pedicatric urologist to determine what treatement is needed next- if any. If the blockage is present at birth and persists, then they can do surgery to remove the blockage and fix the problem. It isn't something they usually treat with antibiotics though. I think you need to find yourself a high risk OB and line up the pediatrician now. I've seen babies born with the problem, and usually it's been a minor surgical procedure to relieve the blockage. It's frightening for you, but the babies usually do just fine afterwards.