Description

Polyhydramnios (pol-e-hi-DRAM-nee-os) is the accumulation of increased amniotic fluid (the fluid that surrounds the baby in the uterus during pregnancy. Polyhydramnios occurs in about 1% to 2% of pregnancies.

Most of the time, the condition is mild. They are often found during the middle or later stages of pregnancy. Polyhydramnios, severe can cause shortness of breath, preterm labor, or other symptoms.

If you find that you have polyhydramnios, your health care team carefully tracks your pregnancy to help prevent health problems. The treatment depends on the severity of the condition. Mild polyhydramnios may go away on their own. Polyhydramnios severe it may be necessary to monitor more closely by the health care team.

Symptoms

Polyhydramnios symptoms may be related to the accumulation of amniotic fluid in the creation of the pressure within the uterus and nearby organs. Mild polyhydramnios often cause few or no symptoms. But the severe forms of the disease can cause:

  • Shortness of breath, or of not being able to breathe.
  • Swelling in the ankles or feet.
  • The pain in the stomach area.
  • Feeling of tension in the muscles of the uterus, called contractions.

Your health care professional may also suspected polyhydramnios if the uterus has become large for the number of weeks of pregnancy.

Causes

Some of the known causes of polyhydramnios are:

  • Conditions that affect the baby's digestive tract, the central nervous system or other organs.
  • Genetic conditions that affect the baby.
  • Diabetes in pregnant women.
  • A complication of identical twin pregnancies in which one twin receives too much blood and the other too little. This is called twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome.
  • A decrease in the number of red blood cells in the baby, also called fetal anemia.
  • A condition in which the pregnant woman's father's blood cells attack the baby's blood cells.
  • The infection during pregnancy.

Often, the cause of polyhydramnios is not clear, especially when the disease is mild.

Risk factors

The risk factors for polyhydramnios include certain conditions that develop during pregnancy, such as gestational diabetes. A condition that affects the development of the baby, such as a problem with the digestive tract, the central nervous system or other organs, it can also put you at risk of polyhydramnios.

Complications

Polyhydramnios is linked with:

  • The baby is born premature, also called preterm birth.
  • The baby is not head down into the ideal position before delivery, also called a breech birth.
  • The water breaking early, also called premature rupture of membranes.
  • The baby's umbilical cord to fall into the vagina before the baby, also called prolapse of the umbilical cord.
  • The organ that provides oxygen and nutrients to the fetus, the placenta, away from the inner wall of the uterus before delivery. This is called placental abruption.
  • Need a cesarean delivery.
  • The loss of a pregnancy after 20 weeks, which is also called fetal death.
  • Heavy bleeding due to decreased muscle tone of the uterus after childbirth.

Major health problems are usually associated with polyhydramnios, severe.

Diagnosis

To find out if you have polyhydramnios, is likely to have a fetal ultrasound. This test uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of your unborn baby on a monitor.

Health care professionals can check the polyhydramnios by measuring the largest stock exchange of amniotic fluid surrounding the baby. This is called the maximum vertical pocket (MVP). Or you can measure the fluid in the four quadrants of the uterus, also called the amniotic fluid index (AFI). Polyhydramnios is diagnosed if the MVP is 8 or greater, or the AFI is 24 or higher.

Depending on the time and how serious the polyhydramnios is, your health care team may recommend other tests to try to determine the cause of polyhydramnios:

  • Blood tests. These can be checked infectious diseases associated with polyhydramnios.
  • The Amniocentesis. This is a procedure in which a sample of amniotic fluid is removed from the uterus for testing. The fluid contains fetal cells and various chemicals produced by the baby. The cells in the fluid can also be used for genetic testing if there is a concern by a genetic disorder.

Your health care team about the tracks of your pregnancy, if you have polyhydramnios. You may receive the following tests:

  • Nonstress test. This test checks to see how your baby's heart rate reacts when your baby moves. During the test, you are going to use a special device in the stomach, also called the abdomen, to measure the baby's heart rate. A beeper-like device can also be used to wake the baby and stimulate the movement.
  • Biophysical profile. This test uses ultrasound to provide more information about your baby's breathing, tone, and movement. It can also help to measure the volume of amniotic fluid in the uterus. Can be combined with a non-stress test.

Treatment

Mild polyhydramnios rarely requires treatment. You can go away on its own account.

Otherwise, treatment of the underlying cause, as, for example, diabetes can help to eliminate the polyhydramnios.

You may need treatment in the hospital if you have polyhydramnios, severe symptoms such as shortness of breath, stomach pain or contractions. Polyhydramnios treatment may include:

  • The drainage of excess amniotic fluid. Your health care team can use amniocentesis to drain the excess of amniotic fluid in the womb. This procedure carries a small risk of health problems. These include preterm labor, placental abruption, and premature rupture of the membranes.
  • Of medicine. Your health care professional may prescribe medication that you take by mouth called indomethacin (Indocin). It is used for 48 hours to help slow the contractions and reduce the volume of amniotic fluid. Ask your care team to talk with you about possible side effects.

After treatment, the medical team will probably want to check your amniotic fluid level every 1 to 3 weeks.

If you have mild to moderate polyhydramnios, your health care team will probably plan to have to deliver your baby at 39 or 40 weeks. If you have severe polyhydramnios, your computer will probably talk about the right timing of delivery. The goal is to reduce the chances of health problems for you and your baby.

Have polyhydramnios can be stressful. But your health care team is there for you. Work together to ensure that you and your baby receive the best care possible.

Preparing for your appointment

It is likely to start by talking with your pregnancy care professional. Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

Before your appointment:

  • Make a note of the symptoms that I had. Include, when they began and how they have changed over time.
  • Write down key personal information, including any other medical condition for which you are being treated.
  • Make a list of all medications, vitamins or supplements you are taking. Include the amount you take, called the dose.
  • Ask a friend or family member to join you. Having someone with you in the check-up can help you remember something you've forgotten or lost.
  • Write questions to ask their health care team.

Prepare a list of questions will help you make the most of your time with your doctor and other health professionals. For polyhydramnios, some basic questions to ask include:

  • What kinds of tests do I need? How much time do I need to be tested?
  • What treatment approach do you recommend?
  • I need to limit my activities?
  • What emergency symptoms should I watch out for in the home?
  • How would this condition affect my baby?
  • If I get pregnant again, will this happen again?
  • Do you have any printed information that I bring with me? What sites do you recommend for more information?

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor will likely give you a physical exam and run some tests, including an ultrasound. You can ask questions such as:

  • When did you start having symptoms?
  • The symptoms been constant or come and go?
  • Do you have difficulty breathing?
  • Have you ever felt a sensation of dizziness or vertigo?
  • Have you noticed an increase in the swelling? Don't you think you're retaining more fluid than usual?
  • What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
  • What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
Symptoms and treatment of Polyhydramnios