Editing Pediatrics: Bladder Anomalies (section)

== Bladder and Urachal Development ==

* The obliterated urachus becomes the median umbilical ligament and connects the apex of the bladder with the umbilicus
* '''Normal Antenatal Sonographic Findings of the Bladder'''
** The bladder can be visualized in ≈50% of cases in the fetal pelvis at the 10th week of gestation, almost 100% at 13 weeks
** '''The fetal bladder empties every 15-20 minutes; therefore a second ultrasound in the same setting is mandatory in case of non-visualization of the bladder.'''
** Fetal sex is difficult to determine before week 14 and should not be based on the presence or absence of a phallus but on visualization of the testes.
** The measurement of amniotic fluid as an indicator of fetal urine production is a critical portion of every antenatal ultrasound
** '''The umbilical cord should contain two arteries and one vein without evidence of a fluid-filled urachus'''