Dilated kidneys in fetus 35 weeks

[bny807]

hello! Thank you so very much for your time! We are 35 weeks pregnant (with a high risk pregnancy due to MTHFR and being on heparin) so I have been getting Biophysical Profiles and NST's weekly- this week they noticed her kidneys, or the proximal ureters, looking dialated at a 5.3 (they said "normal" is 4 and below) Her bladder was also full however. We will check again next week, but this is the first week we have noticed such an abnormality. Can this indicate any sort of disorder besides urinary reflux? there are no other abnormalities on her anatomy. Does the full bladder as well  possibly indicate that she just needed to void? THank you very much for all of your time, its greatly appreciated?

[Yao Sun, MD, PhD]

You and your doctors will have more information as further ultrasounds are performed.  There are times when kidney/ureteral dilation occurs and then goes away.  If the dilation continues or worsens, it might indicate reflux of urine from the bladder or restriction somewhere in the urinary tract.  A full bladder does not necessarily indicate anything other than that the ultrasound was done before the baby had a chance to void.

I'm sure your doctor will continue to follow you and your baby closely.