Hello Ladies,
My friend got a letter in the mail from her doctor telling her that her baby's kidneys were small. It didn't have any other information. Has anyone else had this happen?
Thanks!
E.
Why in the hell would a dr. send a letter like that. Most dr.s I know would talk to her face to face if there were any concerns with the baby. I'd be seeing another dr if this was is so uncaring.
I can't imagine that 44% is something to be concerned about. Is it possible that it's just an informative letter? Are there % of the other organs? 44% just means that out of 100 babies, 56 of them have larger kidneys.
My 7 month old is in the 2% for weight. Even at that low %, my dr isn't concerned about her. She's just small.
I haven't had this happen, but is your friend sure the letter means the kidneys are small? 44th percentile doesn't seem so much smaller than 50th percentile to me, if that's what it said, but I'm of course no expert (which her doctor is, so asking him/her is probably her best bet).
I have never heard of a doctor's office sending a letter like this. My son had a cyst on his kidney and the doctor sat and talked to us about what it meant and our options even though it is really not a big issue at all. I think it is really important to go to a doctor that takes the time to talk to you, especially when it is something as sensitive a pregnancy. I would honestly consider going to a different doctor!
I've not heard of getting a letter about ultrasound results at all, but 1/2 of all babies' kidneys would be below 50th percentile, that's how those measurements work!! (Half of all of us are below average...) If your friend is worried, she should talk with her doctor. There may or may not be anything to do about this or anything to worry about.
E.,
I do not know anyone who is in your friend's situation. However, it may ease your friend's mind to know this...At 5 years of age, my best friend's kidneys stopped functioning. After a short stay at the hospital and seeing a good urologist, she was sent home and lived a very normal life until she was 22. At that time, she had been living with an (estimated) 30% of kidney function. This caused her to have hypertension, so her mother donated her kidney to my friend. Both recovered from the surgery very well and are still perfectly healthy (it has been about 6 years since her transplant).
I know that nobody wants to hear that anything is "wrong" with their little precious baby, but this story may help your friend put her worries into perspective (which is sooo hard to do when you are pregnant). Good luck :)
G.
