How is bladder exstrophy diagnosed?

Sometimes, exstrophy is diagnosed when a pregnant woman has an ultrasound. The ultrasound doctor (radiologist) might notice the bladder is not full. But unborn babies pee often, making the bladder hard to see, and it is easy to miss seeing exstrophy. That is why many babies are diagnosed after they are born. Because the bladder and other structures are exposed on the outer surface of the body, bladder exstrophy is seen right after birth. Sometimes, the diagnosis of exstrophy is not made right away, because it is a rare defect that most healthcare providers have not seen before. Sometimes, it will take a specialist to confirm the diagnosis and to tell if the baby is a boy or a girl.