Is low amniotic fluid dangerous for my baby? What will happen if I'm diagnosed with oligohydramnios? Amniotic fluid fills the sac surrounding your developing baby and plays several important roles: It cushions your baby to protect them from trauma if you take a tumble, for instance. It prevents the umbilical cord from becoming compressed, which would reduce your baby's oxygen supply.
It helps maintain a constant temperature in the womb. It protects against infection. It allows your baby to move around so their muscles and bones develop properly. It helps the digestive and respiratory systems develop as your baby swallows and excretes it and "inhales" and "exhales" it from their lungs.
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Featured video. The Apgar score. Leaking amniotic fluid premature rupture of membranes. Too much amniotic fluid polyhydramnios. Fundal height: Measuring large or small for gestational age.
Biophysical profile. Non-stress test. New to BabyCenter? Join now. Password Forgot your password? Keep me logged in. Log in. Get the BabyCenter app. If oligohydramnios happens in the first 2 trimesters first 6 months of pregnancy, it is more likely to cause serious problems than if it happens in the last trimester. These problems can be:.
Your provider may want to see you more often. She may want to do ultrasounds weekly or more often to check the amount of amniotic fluid. Sometimes amnioinfusion can help prevent problems in the baby. Amnioinfusion is when the provider puts a saline solution salty water into the uterus through your cervix the opening to the uterus that sits at the top of your vagina.
This treatment can help prevent some problems, such as the umbilical cord being squeezed. If the fluid gets too low or if your baby is having trouble staying healthy, your provider may recommend starting labor early to help prevent problems during labor and birth. However, with regular prenatal care, chances are that your baby will be born healthy. Drinking lots of water may help increase the amount of amniotic fluid. Your provider may recommend less physical activity or going on bed rest.
About 4 out of 4 percent pregnant women have oligohydramnios. It happens in about 12 out of 12 percent women whose pregnancies last about 2 weeks past their due dates. This is because the amount of amniotic fluid usually decreases by that time. Get expert tips and resources from March of Dimes and CDC to increase your chance of having a healthy, fully-term pregnancy and baby. Sign up for our emails to receive great health information and join us in the fight for the health of moms and babies.
In summary, this is what I found about low amniotic fluid in an uncomplicated pregnancy at term weeks :. Are women in your local areas being induced for isolated oligohydramnios at term? Are consumers and clinicians aware of this evidence? What is the standard of practice for evaluating amniotic fluid in your local facilities, AFI or Single Deepest Pocket?
How do you discuss this in your classes and with your patients, clients and students? Rebecca's vision is to promote evidence-based birth practices among consumers and clinicians worldwide. She publishes summaries of birth evidence using a Question and Answer style.
Subscribe by Email. Sharon is also a trainer of new birth doulas and childbirth educators. She blogs professionally on perinatal topics. Sharon enjoys facilitating discussion around best practice, current research and its practical application to maternal infant health and community standards.
To learn more about Sharon, you are invited to visit her website, SharonMuza. Contact Us Login. Welcome To Lamaze. The Lamaze Difference. Early Pregnancy. Signs of Pregnancy. Navigating Prenatal Appointments. Fitness During Pregnancy. Understanding Bed Rest. Forming Your Birth Plan. Pregnancy and Birth Decision Guides. Labor Day: What To Expect. Lamaze Healthy Birth Practices Translations.
Early Induction. Baby's Developmental Milestones. Tips For Establishing Breastfeeding. Playful Parents. Bonding with Baby Now. Find a Local Class. Lamaze Online Classes. Polyhydramnios , or hydramnios, is when levels of amniotic fluid are too high. Hydramnios happens if there are problems with amniotic fluid leaving the body, or if the body is creating too much of it. Untreated polyhydramnios can cause complications for the pregnant woman and the developing fetus.
These complications can include early labor or congenital disabilities. A doctor will take a medical history to check for any preexisting conditions and carry out a physical examination. A doctor will use ultrasounds and measure amounts of amniotic fluid to check levels.
Once a doctor has checked levels and found any possible causes, they can decide on the best treatment options. If a pregnant woman has low levels of amniotic fluid towards the end of a healthy pregnancy, they may not need any treatment. A doctor may just carry out additional monitoring to keep a closer eye on levels, including more frequent ultrasounds.
If a pregnant woman has a lower level of amniotic fluid than usual, they or their healthcare team can remedy this. Drinking more water is a simple way of increasing amniotic fluid while resting and decreasing physical exercise may also help.
In other cases, an individual may need medical treatment. Interventions can include intravenous fluids to increase hydration, or directly inserting a saline solution into the amniotic sac to increase fluids. If people have any symptoms of low or high amniotic fluid levels, they should arrange a checkup with their healthcare team. Ultrasounds can help to check amniotic fluid levels, and close monitoring and treatment can ensure both the pregnant woman and the fetus stay healthy.
Having too much amniotic fluid during pregnancy can result in an early or difficult delivery. It can also increase the risk to the baby. A doctor may…. Amniotic fluid is the fluid that surrounds and protects an embryo while it is growing in the uterus.
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