Q&A: At 37 weeks, my baby's kidney had too much fluid. What is going on?

by Dr. Gerard M. DiLeo

I am 37 weeks pregnant and just had another ultrasound. The tech told me that my baby's kidney had a little too much fluid and was not normal. She also said not to worry and that they probably will check him after birth.

What is going on? What could this be?

Usually such findings are normal variations, especially if the amniotic fluid volume is normal, which is made up of, for the most part, fetal urine. But a level III ultrasound by a maternal fetal specialist could add a reassuring perspective, and if anything crazy were to happen, you could be delivered now and expect a mature baby.

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