Question
A mother who is six months pregnant discovered through an ultrasound that her child has only one kidney.
Answer
During the process of embryo development, it is occasionally found that one kidney does not fully differentiate. This condition is known as unilateral kidney. Most of the time, there is no need to worry about this, as even with only one kidney, it usually functions normally, maintaining fluid balance and waste excretion in the body. However, unilateral kidney may increase the risk of kidney stones or other kidney-related problems. After birth, the child may need regular kidney function checks and may require additional medical monitoring and care in some cases.