Polyhydramnios - the term might sound complex, but it simply means having an excessive amount of amniotic fluid in your uterus during pregnancy. While mild cases may pass unnoticed, severe forms can require attention and care.
Polyhydramnios Unveiled
Polyhydramnios arises when there's an abundance of amniotic fluid surrounding your developing baby in the uterus. This fluid plays a vital role in the growth and development of the fetus. Typically, this condition manifests in the latter half of pregnancy, but it can occur as early as 16 weeks. Fortunately, mild polyhydramnios usually doesn't lead to complications. However, close monitoring is essential to address any worsening conditions that may necessitate treatment.
Polyhydramnios: A Rare Encounter
Polyhydramnios is a relatively uncommon occurrence, affecting only about 1% of pregnancies.
Symptoms and Causes
Many individuals with polyhydramnios may not experience symptoms when the condition is mild. Yet, more severe cases might manifest through the following symptoms:
Stomach Tightness, Cramps, or Contractions: You might experience sensations of tightness in your abdomen.
Shortness of Breath: The excess fluid can put pressure on your diaphragm, causing breathing difficulties.
Heartburn: Increased pressure on the stomach can lead to heartburn.
Constipation: Difficulty pooping can occur due to the enlarged uterus.
Increased Urination: As the uterus expands, it can press on your bladder, leading to more frequent urination.
Swelling: Swelling in the vulva, legs, and feet can result from the growing uterus exerting pressure on nearby organs.
The symptoms often stem from the enlarged uterus putting pressure on nearby organs.
Your healthcare provider might suspect polyhydramnios if:
Your uterus measures larger than expected for the gestational age.
They encounter challenges in locating the fetal heartbeat.
They struggle to determine the fetus's position in your uterus.
Unraveling the Causes
For most individuals, especially those with mild cases, the cause of polyhydramnios remains unknown. However, moderate to severe polyhydramnios could be attributed to several factors:
Fetal Swallowing Issues: Some fetuses may have difficulties swallowing amniotic fluid due to congenital disorders.
High Blood Glucose Levels: Diabetes, either pre-existing or developed during pregnancy, can lead to elevated blood glucose levels, contributing to polyhydramnios.
Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS): This condition can occur in cases of identical twins with differing Rh factors.
Rh Factor Discrepancy: When the mother is Rh-negative, and the fetus is Rh-positive, it can result in polyhydramnios.
Fetal Heart Rate Complications: Issues with the fetal heart rate can also lead to polyhydramnios.
Diagnosis and Tests
Your healthcare provider will employ various methods to diagnose polyhydramnios. They will measure your abdomen, a parameter known as fundal height, to determine if your uterus appears larger than expected for the given gestational age. Typically, measuring two or more weeks ahead of the due date raises suspicions.
Ultrasound scans come into play to gauge the amniotic fluid's volume. Two common approaches are the amniotic fluid index (AFI) and maximum vertical pocket (MPV). AFI assesses fluid depth at four locations within your uterus, with the numbers added up. In contrast, MPV measures only the deepest area to estimate fluid volume. If these tests reveal polyhydramnios, further evaluations are warranted to screen for congenital disorders, diabetes, or other conditions. Additional assessments may include a fetal echocardiogram, nonstress test, biophysical profile, amniocentesis, and glucose challenge test.
Management and Treatment
In most cases, mild polyhydramnios requires no treatment, especially if you're nearing the end of your pregnancy. Instead, your healthcare provider may recommend additional monitoring appointments. Vigilant observation of your pregnancy often proves to be the best course of action.
Severe polyhydramnios may necessitate treatment. Addressing the underlying condition responsible for polyhydramnios, such as diabetes, is one option. Other approaches may involve draining excess amniotic fluid or inducing labor before the expected due date, typically between 37 and 39 weeks of pregnancy.
Understanding the Risks
Having excessive amniotic fluid in your uterus can exert pressure on adjacent organs, leading to pregnancy complications. Early-onset polyhydramnios is typically more severe because it allows more time for amniotic fluid to accumulate. It's important to note that the excess fluid itself doesn't harm the fetus. Potential complications stemming from excessive amniotic fluid include early labor, premature birth, placental abruption, postpartum hemorrhage, umbilical cord prolapse, fetal breech position, and, in severe cases, stillbirth.
Prevention and Outlook
Polyhydramnios cannot be prevented. However, if you've been diagnosed with gestational diabetes or had diabetes before pregnancy, managing your blood sugar levels is a precautionary step you can take.
Individuals with polyhydramnios will likely undergo more intensive monitoring for the remainder of their pregnancy. Expect additional appointments and ultrasounds to gauge amniotic fluid volume. Regarding childbirth, it shouldn't differ significantly from pregnancies without polyhydramnios. The baby's heartbeat will be closely monitored during labor to ensure minimal stress. After delivery, a pediatrician will assess the baby's health promptly.
Mild cases of polyhydramnios generally don't affect the baby. However, in cases related to diabetes, the baby might grow too large for a vaginal delivery. Severe polyhydramnios can lead to premature labor and early childbirth. Should treatment be necessary, your healthcare provider will recommend the most suitable approach to ensure both you and your baby receive the best care.
Yes, most individuals with polyhydramnios experience healthy pregnancies and give birth to healthy babies.
While the chances of requiring a cesarean section (C-section) are slightly elevated, it's not a foregone conclusion for those with polyhydramnios.
Juliette
Midwife for 8+ years
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Alexis
12 Dec 2023
I was diagnosed with Polyhydramnios today, any other mamas have any experience with this and gave birth to a healthy baby? Or vice versa? I’d really appreciate all the info I can get, I’m having anxiety about it :/ thank you!!🙏🏼 🧿
I believe the most that can happen is that it will cause baby to come early
27 Mar 2024
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Catherine
I keep googling things and it says higher chance for stillbirth, chance that when your water breaks your umbilical chord can come out with it because of the gish of water, your placenta can detach from your uterus, your baby can have abnormalities. I'm just scared 😭😭😭
27 Mar 2024
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Tee
20 Jul 2023
Just left doctor should I be worried they said I have Polyhydramnios which is to much extra fluid around baby what does that mean.
I have polyhydramnios and gestational diabetes. There are many reason this could be happening. Many are mild things. Did they send you to a high risk doctor to find out why?
27 Mar 2024
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Tee
Yeah I see high risk every week I was already high risk because of chrons and now they told me I have polyhydramnios
27 Mar 2024
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A leo mommy ♌️
30 May 2023
Any mamas have or had Polyhydramnios(too much amniotic fluid) ??
If so, what was the outcome, or your experience/doctor treatment(s).
#boymom #DueInAug
I have it. I get weekly ultrasounds and non stress tests. I’m 35 weeks. The plan is to induce in a week or so (I find out exact date Thursday). It’s very uncomfortable more than anything. But as long as it’s mild/moderate not much is done besides monitoring baby closely and possible induction.
27 Mar 2024
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A leo mommy ♌️
Thank you! Praying for a safe delivery for you. 🙏🏾
27 Mar 2024
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Maribel
6 May 2023
Having multiples is no joke.
Anyone carrying twins been to their ultrasound appointment only to find out you may have mild polyhydramnios? I had to look that up (even though Dr explained) I didn’t pass my first glucose test, now I’ll have to do the three hour one. Also, Twin B is swimming in a pool (too much amniotic fluid) standard is 6 (she’s at 9) hence which is why in the notes she wrote “patient is aware of mild polyhydramnios.” Basically, if I don’t pass the three hour glucose test, it could be due to the fact of too much amniotic fluid which would mean gestational diabetes. 😭 😢
#prayformeandmytwins
#gestationaldiabetes
#polyhydramnios
#glucosetest
... that gestational 3 hour test sucked. My advice, drink water during the wait !!!
I didn't for my first test (the hour) they didn't let me but I feel like the water helped me digest the sugar.
I just hated starving for 3 hours 😫
27 Mar 2024
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Maribel
Yeah they told me I have to fast and no water :/
27 Mar 2024
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Faith
2 May 2023
Has anyone else been diagnosed with mild Polyhydramnios? Did your doc give you a lot of information on it because mine did not.
Yes , I have it … it’s not as bad as it seems as long as you don’t have gestational diabetes or abnormalities in the baby they’ll just monitor you to make sure the fluids don’t exceed
27 Mar 2024
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Buddymama💙
Yes I have that … it’s a lot of fluid around your baby … u may have contractions sooner than most pregnant moms .. and they also may have you induced by 37 weeks
27 Mar 2024
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Hayley
5 Feb 2023
Has any moms ever experienced mild Polyhydramnios? At 37 weeks first time mom and im worried 😩🥹
I had that too at 28 weeks. But no glucose issues. And they reversed the polyhydramnios diagnosis a couple weeks later because it was normal again… said that he probably just Peed a little extra the last time. There shouldn’t be cause for concern unless they say there is cause for concern.
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