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Ask A Midwife

Q.My wife is 8 weeks pregnant and we went for our first ultrasound today. The doctor informed us that the ultrasound technician thought she saw cysts on the baby's kidneys. The doctor also said that we shouldn't worry because they kidneys are the same size (not abnormal in size as far as I know) and that there is plenty of amniotic fluid, which is not the case when the baby has kidney cysts. Looking at the same screen as the technician, its hard to believe she saw anything other than an occasional outline of a small child, not to mention cysts on the kidneys. I looked up infantile polycystic kidney disease and the info wasn't good.....basically fatal for the baby. The doctor says that the possibility of the cysts is very remote, and noted that it was not an uncommon thing for the ultrasound technician to think she saw at this stage in the childs development. The doctor has scheduled us for another ultrasound in one month. This is my wifes (31 yrs.) second child, as we have a very healthy 6 yr. old daughter. Any thoughts would be appreciated, as we are very worried.

Thank you,
Mike

A. Mike,

Another ultrasound is definitely in order. Mistakes in interpretation happen very often and cause needless stress.

Listen to your doctor he is telling you right.

Ollie Anne Hamilton, CPM is a lisenced Direct Entry Midwife in Montana. As a midwife for over 20 years, she has primaried over 600 births. She has three children Two were born at home, all born naturally.