I have polyhydramnios . What is it ?

Polyhydramnios also known as high amniotic fluid is a condition where there is excess accumulation of amniotic fluid surrounding the baby. If an AFI (Amniotic Fluid Index ) shows a fluid level of more than 25 centimeters, a single deep pocket measurement of <8, or a fluid level of 2000mL and above, then your doctor will diagnose you with polyhydramnios.

What caused excess amniotic fluid around my baby?

Factors that can result in high amniotic fluid around your baby include the following :

• maternal diabetes
• congenital defects that affects baby’s swallowing
• fetal anemia
• Rh incompatibilities
• twin-to-twin transfusion, a condition in which one twin gets more blood flow than the other due to connections between the blood vessels in their shared placenta.

Are there any symptoms associated with high amniotic fluid ?

Symptoms include :

• shortness of breath
• decrease urine output
• severe back pain
• extreme swelling of ankle and feet

I have high amniotic fluid. What complications do I face ?

Some of complications associated with high amniotic fluid include:

• severe bleeding by mother after delivery
• still birth
• c-section delivery
• umbilical cord prolapse – when the umbilical cord drops into the vagina ahead of the baby
• preterm labor and delivery
• growth restriction
• excess fetal growth
• placental abruption – the placenta peels away from the inner wall of the uterus before delivery

I have high amniotic fluid around my baby. What’s next?

Mild cases of polyhydramnios usually go away without any intervention. You will just be monitored carefully with frequent sonograms measuring growth, biophysical profile and fetal assessment.

In severe cases, your doctor will do the following:

• drain excess amniotic fluid
• use oral medication indomethacin (Indocin) to help reduce fetal urine production and amniotic fluid volume.

The last resort for this condition is delivery of baby.